Pyrimidine compound as JAK kinase inhibitor

ABSTRACT

The invention provides a compound of formula (I): 
                         
or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof, that is an inhibitor of JAK kinases. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compound, a crystalline form, methods of using such compound to treat inflammatory skin diseases and other diseases, and processes and intermediates useful for preparing such compound.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of U.S. Ser. No.16/737,067, filed on Jan. 8, 2020, now allowed, which is a continuationapplication of U.S. Ser. No. 16/390,175, filed on Apr. 22, 2019, nowU.S. Pat. No. 10,562,894, which is a continuation application of U.S.Ser. No. 16/171,693, filed on Oct. 26, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No.10,308,646, which application claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 62/577,852, filed on Oct. 27, 2017; the disclosures ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The invention is directed to a pyrimidine compound useful as a JAKkinase inhibitor. The invention is also directed to pharmaceuticalcompositions comprising such compound, crystalline forms of suchcompounds, methods of using such compound to treat inflammatory andautoimmune diseases, and processes and intermediates useful forpreparing such compound.

State of the Art

Inhibition of the family of JAK enzymes can inhibit signaling of manykey pro-inflammatory cytokines. Thus JAK inhibitors are likely to beuseful in the treatment of atopic dermatitis and other inflammatory skindiseases, allergic rhinitis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonarydisease (COPD) and other pulmonary inflammatory diseases, ulcerativecolitis and other gastrointestinal inflammatory, as well as ocularinflammatory diseases.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common chronic inflammatory skin diseasethat affects an estimated 14 million people in the United States alone.It is estimated that AD affects 10 to 20% of children and 1 to 3% ofadults in developed countries (Bao et al., JAK-STAT, 2013, 2, e24137)and the prevalence is increasing. Elevation of proinflammatory cytokinesthat rely on the JAK-STAT pathway, in particular, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10,IL-12, IL-13, IFNγ, and TSLP has been associated with AD (Bao et al.,Leung et al., The Journal of Clinical Investigation, 2004, 113,651-657). In addition, upregulation of IL-31, another cytokine thatsignals through a JAK pairing, has been shown to have a role in thepruritus associated with the chronic state of AD (Sonkoly et al.,Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 2006, 117, 411-417).

Due to the modulating effect of the JAK/STAT pathway on the immunesystem, systemic exposure to JAK inhibitors may have an adverse systemicimmunosuppressive effect. Therefore, it would be desirable to provide anew JAK inhibitor which has its effect at the site of action withoutsignificant systemic effects. In particular, for the treatment ofinflammatory skin diseases, such as atopic dermatitis, it would bedesirable to provide a new JAK inhibitor which can be administeredtopically and achieve therapeutically relevant exposure in the skinwhich is rapidly cleared to minimize systemic exposure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the invention provides a compound having activity as aJAK kinase inhibitor.

Accordingly, the invention provides a compound of formula (I):

or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof.

The invention also provides a crystalline form of compound (I).

The invention also provides a pharmaceutical composition comprisingcompound (I) and a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier.

The invention also provides a method of treating inflammatory andautoimmune diseases of the skin, in particular atopic dermatitis andalopecia areata, in a mammal, the method comprising administeringcompound (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, to themammal.

The invention also provides synthetic processes and intermediatesdescribed herein, which are useful for preparing compound (I).

The invention also provides compound (I) as described herein for use intreating inflammatory diseases or disorders.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various aspects of the present invention are illustrated by reference tothe accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a powder x-ray diffraction (PXRD) pattern of crystallineForm I of compound (I) (hereinafter Form I).

FIG. 2 shows a differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) thermogram ofcrystalline Form I.

FIG. 3 shows a thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) plot of crystallineForm I.

FIG. 4 shows the dynamic moisture sorption isotherm of crystalline FormI.

FIG. 5 shows a powder x-ray diffraction (PXRD) pattern of crystallineForm II of compound (I) (hereinafter Form II).

FIG. 6 shows a differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) thermogram ofcrystalline Form II.

FIG. 7 shows a thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) plot of crystallineForm II.

FIG. 8 shows the dynamic moisture sorption isotherm of crystalline FormII.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Among other aspects, the invention provides a JAK kinase inhibitor offormula (I), pharmaceutically-acceptable salts thereof, andintermediates for the preparation thereof.

Chemical structures are named herein according to IUPAC conventions asimplemented in ChemDraw software (PerkinElmer, Inc., Cambridge, Mass.).For example, compound (I):

is designated as(2-(((1R,3s,5S)-9-(ethylsulfonyl)-9-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-3-yl)(methyl)amino)-5-fluoro-6-((5-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)amino)pyrimidin-4-yl)methanol.

The (1R,3s,5S) notation describes the exo orientation of thepyrimidinylamino group with respect to the 9-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonanegroup.

Furthermore, the pyrazolyl moiety of compound (I) as well as othercompounds disclosed herein exists in tautomeric form. It will beunderstood that although specific structures are shown, or named, in aparticular form, the invention also includes the tautomer thereof.

The compounds of the disclosure contain one or more chiral centers andtherefore, such compounds (and intermediates thereof) can exist asracemic mixtures; pure stereoisomers (i.e., enantiomers ordiastereomers); stereoisomer-enriched mixtures and the like. Chiralcompounds shown or named herein without a defined stereochemistry at achiral center are intended to include any or all possible stereoisomervariations at the undefined stereocenter unless otherwise indicated. Thedepiction or naming of a particular stereoisomer means the indicatedstereocenter has the designated stereochemistry with the understandingthat minor amounts of other stereoisomers may also be present unlessotherwise indicated, provided that the utility of the depicted or namedcompound is not eliminated by the presence of another stereoisomer.

Compound (I) may exist as a free form or in various salt forms, such amono-protonated salt form, a di-protonated salt form, a tri-protonatedsalt form, or mixtures thereof. All such forms are included within thescope of this invention, unless otherwise indicated.

This invention also includes isotopically-labeled versions of thecompounds of the disclosure, including compound (I), where an atom hasbeen replaced or enriched with an atom having the same atomic number butan atomic mass different from the atomic mass that predominates innature. Examples of isotopes that may be incorporated into a compound offormula (I) include, but are not limited to, ²H, ³H, ¹¹C, ¹³C, ¹⁴C, ¹³N,¹⁵N, ¹⁵O, ¹⁷O, ¹⁸O, ³⁵S, and ¹⁸F. Of particular interest are compoundsof formula (I) enriched in tritium or carbon-14, which compounds can beused, for example, in tissue distribution studies. Also of particularinterest are compounds of formula (I) enriched in deuterium especiallyat a site of metabolism, which compounds are expected to have greatermetabolic stability. Additionally of particular interest are compoundsof formula (I) enriched in a positron emitting isotope, such as ¹¹C,¹⁸F, ¹⁵O and ¹³N, which compounds can be used, for example, in PositronEmission Tomography (PET) studies.

Definitions

When describing this invention including its various aspects andembodiments, the following terms have the following meanings, unlessotherwise indicated.

The term “alkyl” means a monovalent saturated hydrocarbon group whichmay be linear or branched or combinations thereof. Unless otherwisedefined, such alkyl groups typically contain from 1 to 10 carbon atoms.Representative alkyl groups include, by way of example, methyl (Me),ethyl (Et), n-propyl (n-Pr) or (nPr), isopropyl (i-Pr) or (iPr), n-butyl(n-Bu) or (nBu), sec-butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl (t-Bu) or (tBu),n-pentyl, n-hexyl, 2,2-dimethylpropyl, 2-methylbutyl, 3-methylbutyl,2-ethylbutyl, 2,2-dimethylpentyl, 2-propylpentyl, and the like.

When a specific number of carbon atoms are intended for a particularterm, the number of carbon atoms is shown preceding the term. Forexample, the term “C₁₋₃ alkyl” means an alkyl group having from 1 to 3carbon atoms wherein the carbon atoms are in any chemically-acceptableconfiguration, including linear or branched configurations.

The term “alkoxy” means the monovalent group —O-alkyl, where alkyl isdefined as above. Representative alkoxy groups include, by way ofexample, methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, butoxy, and the like.

The term “cycloalkyl” means a monovalent saturated carbocyclic groupwhich may be monocyclic or multicyclic. Unless otherwise defined, suchcycloalkyl groups typically contain from 3 to 10 carbon atoms.Representative cycloalkyl groups include, by way of example, cyclopropyl(cPr), cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, cyclooctyl,adamantyl, and the like.

The term “halogen” means fluoro, chloro, bromo or iodo.

The term “heterocyclyl”, “heterocycle”, “heterocyclic”, or “heterocyclicring” means a monovalent saturated or partially unsaturated cyclicnon-aromatic group, having from 3 to 10 total ring atoms, wherein thering contains from 2 to 9 carbon ring atoms and from 1 to 4 ringheteroatoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur. Heterocyclicgroups may be monocyclic or multicyclic (i.e., fused or bridged).Representative heterocyclic groups include, by way of example,pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, imidazolidinyl, morpholinyl,thiomorpholyl, indolin-3-yl, 2-imidazolinyl, tetrahydropyranyl,1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolin-2-yl, quinuclidinyl, 7-azanorbornanyl,nortropanyl, and the like, where the point of attachment is at anyavailable carbon or nitrogen ring atom. Where the context makes thepoint of attachment of the heterocyclic group evident, such groups mayalternatively be referred to as a non-valent species, i.e. pyrrolidine,piperidine, piperazine, imidazole, tetrahydropyran etc.

The term “therapeutically effective amount” means an amount sufficientto effect treatment when administered to a patient in need of treatment.

The term “treatment” as used herein means the treatment of a disease,disorder, or medical condition (such as a gastrointestinal inflammatorydisease), in a patient, such as a mammal (particularly a human) whichincludes one or more of the following:

(a) preventing the disease, disorder, or medical condition fromoccurring, i.e., preventing the reoccurrence of the disease or medicalcondition or prophylactic treatment of a patient that is pre-disposed tothe disease or medical condition;

(b) ameliorating the disease, disorder, or medical condition, i.e.,eliminating or causing regression of the disease, disorder, or medicalcondition in a patient, including counteracting the effects of othertherapeutic agents;

(c) suppressing the disease, disorder, or medical condition, i.e.,slowing or arresting the development of the disease, disorder, ormedical condition in a patient; or

(d) alleviating the symptoms of the disease, disorder, or medicalcondition in a patient.

The term “pharmaceutically acceptable salt” means a salt that isacceptable for administration to a patient or a mammal, such as a human(e.g., salts having acceptable mammalian safety for a given dosageregime). Representative pharmaceutically acceptable salts include saltsof acetic, ascorbic, benzenesulfonic, benzoic, camphorsulfonic, citric,ethanesulfonic, edisylic, fumaric, gentisic, gluconic, glucoronic,glutamic, hippuric, hydrobromic, hydrochloric, isethionic, lactic,lactobionic, maleic, malic, mandelic, methanesulfonic, mucic,naphthalenesulfonic, naphthalene-1,5-disulfonic,naphthalene-2,6-disulfonic, nicotinic, nitric, orotic, pamoic,pantothenic, phosphoric, succinic, sulfuric, tartaric, p-toluenesulfonicand xinafoic acid, and the like.

The term “salt thereof” means a compound formed when the hydrogen of anacid is replaced by a cation, such as a metal cation or an organiccation and the like. For example, the cation can be a protonated form ofa compound of formula (I), i.e. a form where one or more amino groupshave been protonated by an acid. Typically, the salt is apharmaceutically acceptable salt, although this is not required forsalts of intermediate compounds that are not intended for administrationto a patient.

The term “amino-protecting group” means a protecting group suitable forpreventing undesired reactions at an amino nitrogen. Representativeamino-protecting groups include, but are not limited to, formyl; acylgroups, for example alkanoyl groups, such as acetyl andtri-fluoroacetyl; alkoxycarbonyl groups, such as tert-butoxycarbonyl(Boc); arylmethoxycarbonyl groups, such as benzyloxycarbonyl (Cbz) and9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc); arylmethyl groups, such as benzyl(Bn), trityl (Tr), and 1,1-di-(4′-methoxyphenyl)methyl; silyl groups,such as trimethylsilyl (TMS), triisopropylsiliyl (TIPS),tert-butyldimethylsilyl (TBS or TBDMS),[2-(trimethylsilyl)-ethoxy]methyl (SEM); and the like. Numerousprotecting groups, and their introduction and removal, are described inT. W. Greene and P. G. M. Wuts, Protecting Groups in Organic Synthesis,Third Edition, Wiley, New York

General Synthetic Procedures

Compound (I), and intermediates thereof, can be prepared according tothe following general methods and procedures usingcommercially-available or routinely-prepared starting materials andreagents. The substituents and variables (e.g., R, and X) used in thefollowing schemes have the same meanings as those defined elsewhereherein unless otherwise indicated. Additionally, compounds having anacidic or basic atom or functional group may be used or may be producedas a salt unless otherwise indicated (in some cases, the use of a saltin a particular reaction will require conversion of the salt to anon-salt form, e.g., a free base, using routine procedures beforeconducting the reaction).

Although a particular embodiment of the present invention may be shownor described in the following procedures, those skilled in the art willrecognize that other embodiments or aspects of the present invention canalso be prepared using such procedures or by using other methods,reagents, and starting materials known to those skilled in the art. Inparticular, it will be appreciated that compound (I) may be prepared bya variety of process routes in which reactants are combined in differentorders to provide different intermediates en route to producing thefinal product.

General methods of preparing compound (I) are illustrated in schemes 1and 2.

Starting material 2-1 may be converted to ester (V), by reaction with analcohol in presence of an acid, where R is an alkyl group. In someembodiments, R is a C₁₋₁₂ alkyl group. In some embodiments the alcoholis ethanol. Compound (V) may be converted to the di-halo compound (IV).In some embodiments, (IV) is a di-chloro analog. In some embodiments,the reagent is POCl₃. Compound (IV) may be converted to (III) byreaction with 2-4 in presence of a base. Compound (II) may be formed byreacting (III) with 1-9 in the presence of a base. Finally, (II) may bereduced to (I) in presence of a reducing agent. In some embodiments, thereducing agent is a lithium or sodium hydride source. In someembodiments, the reducing agent is LiAlH₄, NaBH₄, or LiBH₄. In someembodiments, R is ethyl. Optionally, a pharmaceutically acceptable saltof (I) may be formed.

For this general method, in some embodiments, R is a C₁₋₁₂ alkyl. Insome embodiments, R is a C₁₋₆ alkyl. In some embodiments, R is a C₁₋₃alkyl. In some embodiments, R is ethyl. In some embodiments, X is F, Clor Br. In some embodiments, X is Cl. In some embodiments, R is ethyl andX is Cl.

Alternatively, compound (III) may be reacted with compound (VI) whereinPG is an amino-protecting group, in presence of a base, such as DIPEA,to give compound (VII). Compound (VII) may be reduced to thecorresponding alcohol (VIII) with a reducing agent. In some embodiments,the reducing agent is a lithium or sodium hydride source. In someembodiments, the reducing agent is LiAlH₄, NaBH₄, or LiBH₄. Compound(VIII) may be deprotected to give compound (IX). When PG is Boc, thedeprotection may be conducted in presence of a strong acid such as TFAor HCl. Finally, compound (IX) may be reacted with a source ofethanesulfonyl such as ethanesulfonyl chloride.

For this general method, in some embodiments, PG is tert-butoxycarbonyl(Boc). In some embodiments, R is a C₁₋₁₂ alkyl. In some embodiments, Ris a C₁₋₆ alkyl. In some embodiments, R is a C₁₋₃ alkyl. In someembodiments, R is ethyl. In some embodiments, X is F, Cl or Br. In someembodiments, X is Cl. In some embodiments, R is ethyl and X is Cl.

Crystalline Form I

In another aspect, the disclosure provides a crystalline form (Form I)of compound (I)

In one aspect, the crystalline form is characterized by a powder X-raydiffraction comprising diffraction peaks at 20 values of 11.19±0.20,11.73±0.20, 18.80±0.20, and 19.29±0.20. In another aspect, thecrystalline form is further characterized by having an additionaldiffraction peaks at a 20 value of 6.75±0.20. In another aspect, thecrystalline form is further characterized by having two or moreadditional diffraction peaks at 2θ values selected from 5.91±0.20,6.28±0.20, 8.08±0.20, 16.68±0.20, 17.62±0.20, 20.53±0.20, and22.16±0.20.

As is well known in the field of powder X-ray diffraction, peakpositions of PXRD patterns are relatively less sensitive to experimentaldetails, such as details of sample preparation and instrument geometry,than are the relative peak heights. Thus, in one aspect, the crystallineForm I is characterized by a powder X-ray diffraction pattern in whichthe peak positions are substantially in accordance with the peakpositions of the pattern shown in FIG. 1.

In another aspect, crystalline Form I is characterized by its behaviorwhen exposed to high temperature. As demonstrated in FIG. 2, thedifferential scanning calorimetry (DSC) trace recorded at a heating rateof 10° C. per minute exhibits a peak in endothermic heat flow,identified as a melt transition, which shows a maximum in endothermicheat flow at a temperature of 250.9° C.±2° C. In another aspect form Iis characterized by a differential scanning calorimetry tracesubstantially in accordance with that shown in FIG. 2.

The thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) trace of FIG. 3 exhibits a weightloss of about 0.70% between 22° C. and 125° C., under N₂ purge. Thecompound decomposes at an onset temperature of about 250° C.

As described in Preparation 2, Form I may be prepared by dissolvingcompound (I) in ethanol upon heating. The resulting solution is thencooled to about 25° C. Form I may be isolated by filtration.

In another aspect, the invention provides a method of preparingcrystalline Form I, the method comprising: (a) dissolving compound (I)in a diluent such as ethanol and optionally applying heating to form areaction mixture; (b) cooling the solution to about 25° C. with optionalstirring; and (c) isolating crystalline Form I from the reactionmixture, for example by filtration.

Crystalline Form II

In another aspect, the invention provides a crystalline form (Form II)of compound (I):

which is a freebase anhydrous crystalline form.

In one aspect, the crystalline form is characterized by a powder X-raydiffraction comprising diffraction peaks at 20 values of 11.4±0.2,16.2±0.2, 16.6±0.2, 17.7±0.2, and 21.9±0.2.

In another aspect, the crystalline form is further characterized byhaving additional diffraction peaks at 2θ values of 8.9±0.2, 9.5±0.2,and 10.2±0.2.

In another aspect, the crystalline form is further characterized byhaving two or more additional diffraction peaks at 2θ values selectedfrom 14.4±0.2, 19.0±0.2, 19.2±0.2, 19.8±0.2, 20.1±0.2, 20.4±0.2,20.6±0.2, 20.8±0.2, 21.3±0.2, 25.9±0.2, 30.1±0.2, 30.5±0.2, 30.9±0.2,32.6±0.2, and 33.8±0.2.

As is well known in the field of powder X-ray diffraction, peakpositions of PXRD patterns are relatively less sensitive to experimentaldetails, such as details of sample preparation and instrument geometry,than are the relative peak heights. Thus, in one aspect, the crystallineForm II is characterized by a powder X-ray diffraction pattern in whichthe peak positions are substantially in accordance with the peakpositions of the pattern shown in FIG. 5.

In another aspect, crystalline Form II is characterized by its behaviorwhen exposed to high temperature. As demonstrated in FIG. 6, thedifferential scanning calorimetry (DSC) trace recorded at a heating rateof 10° C. per minute exhibits a peak in endothermic heat flow,identified as a melt transition, which shows a maximum in endothermicheat flow at a temperature of 238.1° C.±2° C. In another aspect form IIis characterized by a differential scanning calorimetry tracesubstantially in accordance with that shown in FIG. 6.

The thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) trace of FIG. 7 exhibits a weightloss associated with decomposition after 222° C.

A representative DMS trace for Form II is shown in FIG. 8. The totalmoisture uptake between 5 and 90% RH was about 0.02%. Form II isnon-hygroscopic.

As described in Preparation 20, Form II may be prepared by suspendingcompound 2-6 in a mixture of EtOH and THF, cooled to 5° C. To thissuspension, LiBH₄ can be added. After the addition, the temperature canbe increased to 10° C., and the reaction mixture can be stirred for 2hours. The reaction can be quenched with a mixture of ammonium chloridedissolved in water. After heating to 45° C., water can be slowly addedto generate crystals. The resulting slurry can be held at 45° C. for afew hours then be stirred at 15° C. and filtered. The crystalline formForm II can be rinsed with EtOH and water and then dried to giveintermediate grade Form II.

This intermediate grade can be dissolved in DMSO upon heating followedby the slow addition of n-PrOH while maintaining the internaltemperature at about 86° C. The mixture is stirred at about 92° C. forabout 4 hours. The resulting mixture is then slowly cooled to about 20°C. and stirred at about 20° C. for a few hours. Form II may then beisolated by filtration. The crystalline Form II can be washed with nPrOHand ethanol followed by filtration.

In another aspect, the disclosure provides a method of purifyingintermediate grade crystalline Form II, the method comprising: (a)dissolving intermediate grade Form II in a diluent such as DMSO andapplying heating to the mixture; (b) slowly adding n-PrOH; (c) heatingthe mixture at about 90° C.; (d) cooling the solution to about 20° C.;and (e) isolating crystalline Form II from the reaction mixture, forexample by filtration.

Pharmaceutical Compositions

Compound (I) and pharmaceutically-acceptable salts thereof are typicallyused in the form of a pharmaceutical composition or formulation.Compound (I) may be present as a crystalline form such as Form I or FormII. Such pharmaceutical compositions may be administered to a patient byany acceptable route of administration including, but not limited to,oral, topical (including transdermal), rectal, nasal, inhaled, andparenteral modes of administration.

Accordingly, in one of its composition aspects, the invention isdirected to a pharmaceutical composition comprising apharmaceutically-acceptable carrier or excipient and compound (I), or apharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof. In another composition aspect,the invention is directed to a pharmaceutical composition comprising apharmaceutically-acceptable carrier or excipient and a crystalline formof compound (I), or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof, forexample Form I or Form II. Optionally, such pharmaceutical compositionsmay contain other therapeutic and/or formulating agents if desired. Whendiscussing compositions and uses thereof, the “compound of theinvention” may also be referred to herein as the “active agent”.

The pharmaceutical compositions of this disclosure typically contain atherapeutically effective amount of compound (I), or apharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof. Those skilled in the art willrecognize, however, that a pharmaceutical composition may contain morethan a therapeutically effective amount, i.e., bulk compositions, orless than a therapeutically effective amount, i.e., individual unitdoses designed for multiple administration to achieve a therapeuticallyeffective amount.

Typically, such pharmaceutical compositions will contain from about 0.1to about 95% by weight of the active agent; including from about 5 toabout 70% by weight of the active agent.

Any conventional carrier or excipient may be used in the pharmaceuticalcompositions of the invention. The choice of a particular carrier orexcipient, or combinations of carriers or excipients, will depend on themode of administration being used to treat a particular patient or typeof medical condition or disease state. In this regard, the preparationof a suitable pharmaceutical composition for a particular mode ofadministration is well within the scope of those skilled in thepharmaceutical arts. Additionally, the carriers or excipients used inthe pharmaceutical compositions of this invention arecommercially-available. By way of further illustration, conventionalformulation techniques are described in Remington: The Science andPractice of Pharmacy, 20th Edition, Lippincott Williams & White,Baltimore, Md. (2000); and H. C. Ansel et al., Pharmaceutical DosageForms and Drug Delivery Systems, 7th Edition, Lippincott Williams &White, Baltimore, Md. (1999).

Representative examples of materials which can serve as pharmaceuticallyacceptable carriers include, but are not limited to, the following:sugars, such as lactose, glucose and sucrose; starches, such as cornstarch and potato starch; cellulose, such as microcrystalline cellulose,and its derivatives, such as sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, ethylcellulose and cellulose acetate; powdered tragacanth; malt; gelatin;talc; excipients, such as cocoa butter and suppository waxes; oils, suchas peanut oil, cottonseed oil, safflower oil, sesame oil, olive oil,corn oil and soybean oil; glycols, such as propylene glycol; polyols,such as glycerin, sorbitol, mannitol and polyethylene glycol; esters,such as ethyl oleate and ethyl laurate; agar; buffering agents, such asmagnesium hydroxide and aluminum hydroxide; alginic acid; pyrogen-freewater; isotonic saline; Ringer's solution; ethyl alcohol; phosphatebuffer solutions; and other non-toxic compatible substances employed inpharmaceutical compositions.

Pharmaceutical compositions are typically prepared by thoroughly andintimately mixing or blending the active agent with apharmaceutically-acceptable carrier and one or more optionalingredients. The resulting uniformly blended mixture may then be shapedor loaded into tablets, capsules, pills and the like using conventionalprocedures and equipment.

The pharmaceutical compositions of this disclosure may be packaged in aunit dosage form. The term “unit dosage form” refers to a physicallydiscrete unit suitable for dosing a patient, i.e., each unit containinga predetermined quantity of active agent calculated to produce thedesired therapeutic effect either alone or in combination with one ormore additional units. For example, such unit dosage forms may becapsules, tablets, pills, and the like, or unit packages suitable forparenteral administration.

In one embodiment, the pharmaceutical compositions of the invention aresuitable for oral administration. Suitable pharmaceutical compositionsfor oral administration may be in the form of capsules, tablets, pills,lozenges, cachets, dragees, powders, granules; or as a solution or asuspension in an aqueous or non-aqueous liquid; or as an oil-in-water orwater-in-oil liquid emulsion; or as an elixir or syrup; and the like;each containing a predetermined amount of a compound of this disclosure,or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof, as an active ingredient.

When intended for oral administration in a solid dosage form (i.e., ascapsules, tablets, pills and the like), the pharmaceutical compositionsof this disclosure will typically comprise the active agent, or apharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and one or morepharmaceutically-acceptable carriers. Optionally, such solid dosageforms may comprise: fillers or extenders, such as starches,microcrystalline cellulose, lactose, dicalcium phosphate, sucrose,glucose, mannitol, and/or silicic acid; binders, such ascarboxymethylcellulose, alginates, gelatin, polyvinyl pyrrolidone,sucrose and/or acacia; humectants, such as glycerol; disintegratingagents, such as crosscarmellose sodium, agar-agar, calcium carbonate,potato or tapioca starch, alginic acid, certain silicates, and/or sodiumcarbonate; solution retarding agents, such as paraffin; absorptionaccelerators, such as quaternary ammonium compounds; wetting agents,such as cetyl alcohol and/or glycerol monostearate; absorbents, such askaolin and/or bentonite clay; lubricants, such as talc, calciumstearate, magnesium stearate, solid polyethylene glycols, sodium laurylsulfate, and/or mixtures thereof; coloring agents; and buffering agents.

Release agents, wetting agents, coating agents, sweetening, flavoringand perfuming agents, preservatives and antioxidants can also be presentin the pharmaceutical compositions of this disclosure. Examples ofpharmaceutically-acceptable antioxidants include: water-solubleantioxidants, such as ascorbic acid, cysteine hydrochloride, sodiumbisulfate, sodium metabisulfate, sodium sulfite and the like;oil-soluble antioxidants, such as ascorbyl palmitate, butylatedhydroxyanisole, butylated hydroxytoluene, lecithin, propyl gallate,alpha-tocopherol, and the like; and metal-chelating agents, such ascitric acid, ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid, sorbitol, tartaric acid,phosphoric acid, and the like. Coating agents for tablets, capsules,pills and like, include those used for enteric coatings, such ascellulose acetate phthalate, polyvinyl acetate phthalate, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose phthalate, methacrylic acid, methacrylic acid estercopolymers, cellulose acetate trimellitate, carboxymethyl ethylcellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose acetate succinate, and thelike.

Pharmaceutical compositions of this disclosure may also be formulated toprovide slow or controlled release of the active agent using, by way ofexample, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose in varying proportions; or otherpolymer matrices, liposomes and/or microspheres. In addition, thepharmaceutical compositions of this disclosure may optionally containopacifying agents and may be formulated so that they release the activeingredient only, or preferentially, in a certain portion of thegastrointestinal tract, optionally, in a delayed manner. Examples ofembedding compositions which can be used include polymeric substancesand waxes. The active agent can also be in micro-encapsulated form, ifappropriate, with one or more of the above-described excipients.

Suitable liquid dosage forms for oral administration include, by way ofillustration, pharmaceutically-acceptable emulsions, microemulsions,solutions, suspensions, syrups and elixirs. Liquid dosage formstypically comprise the active agent and an inert diluent, such as, forexample, water or other solvents, solubilizing agents and emulsifiers,such as ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, ethyl carbonate, ethylacetate, benzyl alcohol, benzyl benzoate, propylene glycol, 1,3-butyleneglycol, oils (esp., cottonseed, groundnut, corn, germ, olive, castor andsesame oils), oleic acid, glycerol, tetrahydrofuryl alcohol,polyethylene glycols and fatty acid esters of sorbitan, and mixturesthereof. Alternatively, certain liquid formulations can be converted,for example, by spray drying, to a powder, which is used to preparesolid dosage forms by conventional procedures.

Suspensions, in addition to the active ingredient, or a pharmaceuticallyacceptable salt thereof, may contain suspending agents such as, forexample, ethoxylated isostearyl alcohols, polyoxyethylene sorbitol andsorbitan esters, microcrystalline cellulose, aluminum metahydroxide,bentonite, agar-agar and tragacanth, and mixtures thereof.

Compound (I), or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof, may also beadministered parenterally (e.g. by intravenous, subcutaneous,intramuscular or intraperitoneal injection). For parenteraladministration, the active agent, or a pharmaceutically acceptable saltthereof, is typically admixed with a suitable vehicle for parenteraladministration including, by way of example, sterile aqueous solutions,saline, low molecular weight alcohols such as propylene glycol,polyethylene glycol, vegetable oils, gelatin, fatty acid esters such asethyl oleate, and the like. Parenteral formulations may also contain oneor more anti-oxidants, solubilizers, stabilizers, preservatives, wettingagents, emulsifiers, buffering agents, or dispersing agents. Theseformulations may be rendered sterile by use of a sterile injectablemedium, a sterilizing agent, filtration, irradiation, or heat.

Alternatively, the pharmaceutical compositions of this disclosure areformulated for administration by inhalation. Suitable pharmaceuticalcompositions for administration by inhalation will typically be in theform of an aerosol or a powder. Such compositions are generallyadministered using well-known delivery devices, such as a metered-doseinhaler, a dry powder inhaler, a nebulizer or a similar delivery device.

When administered by inhalation using a pressurized container, thepharmaceutical compositions of this disclosure will typically comprisethe active ingredient, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,and a suitable propellant, such as dichlorodifluoromethane,trichlorofluoromethane, dichlorotetrafluoroethane, carbon dioxide orother suitable gas. Additionally, the pharmaceutical composition may bein the form of a capsule or cartridge (made, for example, from gelatin)comprising a compound of the invention, or a pharmaceutically-acceptablesalt thereof, and a powder suitable for use in a powder inhaler.Suitable powder bases include, by way of example, lactose or starch.

Topical Formulations

To treat skin conditions, the compound of the invention, or apharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof, is preferably formulated fortopical administration to the skin. Topical compositions comprise fluidor semi-solid vehicles that may include but are not limited to polymers,thickeners, buffers, neutralizers, chelating agents, preservatives,surfactants or emulsifiers, antioxidants, waxes or oils, emollients,sunscreens, and a solvent or mixed solvent system. The topicalcompositions useful in the subject invention can be made into a widevariety of product types. These include, but are not limited to lotions,creams, gels, sticks, sprays, ointments, pastes, foams, mousses, andcleansers. These product types can comprise several types of carriersystems including, but not limited to particles, nanoparticles, andliposomes. If desired, disintegrating agents can be added, such as thecross-linked polyvinyl pyrrolidone, agar or alginic acid or a saltthereof such as sodium alginate. Techniques for formulation andadministration can be found in Remington: The Science and Practice ofPharmacy, 19th Ed. (Easton, Pa.: Mack Publishing Co., 1995). Theformulation can be selected to maximize delivery to a desired targetsite in the body.

Lotions, which are preparations that are to be applied to the skin, orhair surface without friction, are typically liquid or semi-liquidpreparations in which finely divided solid, waxy, or liquid aredispersed. Lotions will typically contain suspending agents to producebetter dispersions as well as compounds useful for localizing andholding the active agent in contact with the skin or hair, e.g.,methylcellulose, sodium carboxymethyl-cellulose, or the like.

Creams containing the active agent, or a pharmaceutically acceptablesalt thereof, for delivery according to the present disclosure areviscous liquid or semisolid emulsions, either oil-in-water orwater-in-oil. Cream bases are water-washable, and contain an oil phase,an emulsifier and an aqueous phase. The oil phase is generally comprisedof petrolatum or a fatty alcohol, such as cetyl- or stearyl alcohol; theaqueous phase usually, although not necessarily, exceeds the oil phasein volume, and generally contains a humectant. The emulsifier in a creamformulation, as explained in Remington: The Science and Practice ofPharmacy, is generally a nonionic, anionic, cationic or amphotericsurfactant. Components of cream formulations may include: oil bases,such as petrolatrum, mineral oils, vegetable and animal oils, andtriglycerides; cream bases, such as lanolin alcohols, stearic acid, andcetostearyl alcohol; a gel base, such as polyvinyl alcohol; solvents,such as, propylene glycol and polyethylene glycol; emulsifiers, such aspolysorbates, stearates, such as glyceryl stearate,octylhydroxystearate, polyoxyl stearate, PEG stearyl ethers, isopropylpalmitate, and sorbitan monostearate; stabilizers, such aspolysaccharides and sodium sulfite; emollients (i.e. moisturizers), suchas medium chain triglycerides, isopropyl myristate, and dimethicone;stiffening agents, such as cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol;antimicrobial agents, such as methylparaben, propylparaben,phenoxyethanol, sorbic acid, diazolidinyl urea, and butylatedhydroxyanisole; penetration enhancers, such as N-methylpyrrolidone,propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol monolaurate, and the like; andchelating agents, such as edetate disodium.

Gel formulations can also be used in connection with the presentinvention. As will be appreciated by those working in the field oftopical drug formulation, gels are semisolid. Single-phase gels containorganic macromolecules distributed substantially uniformly throughoutthe carrier liquid, which is typically aqueous, but also may be asolvent or solvent blend.

Ointments, which are semisolid preparations, are typically based onpetrolatum or other petroleum derivatives. As will be appreciated by theordinarily skilled artisan, the specific ointment base to be used is onethat provides for optimum delivery for the active agent chosen for agiven formulation, and, preferably, provides for other desiredcharacteristics as well, e.g., emolliency or the like. As with othercarriers or vehicles, an ointment base should be inert, stable,nonirritating and non-sensitizing. As explained in Remington: TheScience and Practice of Pharmacy, 19th Ed. (Easton, Pa.: Mack PublishingCo., 1995), at pages 1399-1404, ointment bases may be grouped in fourclasses: oleaginous bases; emulsifiable bases; emulsion bases; andwater-soluble bases. Oleaginous ointment bases include, for example,vegetable oils, fats obtained from animals, and semisolid hydrocarbonsobtained from petroleum. Emulsifiable ointment bases, also known asabsorbent ointment bases, contain little or no water and include, forexample, hydroxystearin sulfate, anhydrous lanolin and hydrophilicpetrolatum. Emulsion ointment bases are either water-in-oil (W/O)emulsions or oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions, and include, for example,cetyl alcohol, glyceryl monostearate, lanolin and stearic acid.Water-soluble ointment bases may be prepared from polyethylene glycolsof varying molecular weight; again, reference may be had to Remington:The Science and Practice of Pharmacy, supra, for further information.Suitable oily materials for use in ointment formulations includepetrolatum (petroleum jelly), beeswax, cocoa butter, shea butter, andcetyl alcohol. Ointments may optionally additionally include penetrationenhancers, if desired.

Useful formulations of the invention also encompass sprays. Spraysgenerally provide the active agent in an aqueous and/or alcoholicsolution which can be misted onto the skin or hair for delivery. Suchsprays include those formulated to provide for concentration of theactive agent solution at the site of administration following delivery,e.g., the spray solution can be primarily composed of alcohol or otherlike volatile liquid in which the drug or active agent can be dissolved.Upon delivery to the skin or hair, the carrier evaporates, leavingconcentrated active agent at the site of administration.

The topical pharmaceutical compositions may also comprise suitable solidor gel phase carriers. Examples of such carriers include but are notlimited to calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, various sugars,starches, cellulose derivatives, gelatin, and polymers such aspolyethylene glycols.

The topical pharmaceutical compositions may also comprise a suitableemulsifier which refers to an agent that enhances or facilitates mixingand suspending oil-in-water or water-in-oil. The emulsifying agent usedherein may consist of a single emulsifying agent or may be a nonionic,anionic, cationic or amphoteric surfactant or blend of two or more suchsurfactants; preferred for use herein are nonionic or anionicemulsifiers. Such surface-active agents are described in “McCutcheon'sDetergent and Emulsifiers,” North American Edition, 1980 Annualpublished by the McCutcheon Division, MC Publishing Company, 175 RockRoad, Glen Rock, N.J. 07452, USA.

High molecular weight alcohols may be used such as cetearyl alcohol,cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, emulsifying wax, glyceryl monostearate.Other examples are ethylene glycol distearate, sorbitan tristearate,propylene glycol monostearate, sorbitan monooleate, sorbitanmonostearate (SPAN 60), diethylene glycol monolaurate, sorbitanmonopalmitate, sucrose dioleate, sucrose stearate (CRODESTA F-160),polyoxyethylene lauryl ether (BRIJ 30), polyoxyethylene (2) stearylether (BRIJ 72), polyoxyethylene (21) stearyl ether (BRIJ 721),polyoxyethylene monostearate (Myrj 45), polyoxyethylene sorbitanmonostearate (TWEEN 60), polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate (TWEEN 80),polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate (TWEEN 20) and sodium oleate.Cholesterol and cholesterol derivatives may also be employed inexternally used emulsions.

Example of suitable nonionic emulsifying agents are described by Paul L.Lindner in “Emulsions and Emulsion”, edited by Kenneth Lissant,published by Dekker, New York, N.Y., 1974. Examples of nonionicemulsifiers that may be used include but are not limited to BRIJproducts such as BRIJ 2 (a polyoxyethylene (2) stearyl ether), BRIJ S20(a polyoxyethylene (20) stearyl ether), BRIJ 72 (a polyoxyethylene (2)stearyl ether having an HLB of 4.9), BRIJ 721 (a polyoxyethylene (21)stearyl ether having an HLB of 15.5), Brij 30 (a polyoxyethylene laurylether having an HLB of 9.7), Polawax (emulsifying wax having an HLB of8.0), Span 60 (sorbitan monostearate having an HLB of 4.7), CrodestaF-160 (sucrose stearate” having an HLB of 14.5).

The topical pharmaceutical compositions may also comprise suitableemollients. Emollients are materials used for the prevention or reliefof dryness, as well as for the protection of the skin or hair. Usefulemollients include, but are not limited to, cetyl alcohol, isopropylmyristate, stearyl alcohol, and the like. A wide variety of suitableemollients are known and can be used herein. See e.g., Sagarin,Cosmetics, Science and Technology, 2nd Edition, Vol. 1, pp. 32-43(1972), and U.S. Pat. No. 4,919,934, to Deckner et al., issued Apr. 24,1990, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in theirentirety.

The topical pharmaceutical compositions may also comprise suitableantioxidants, substances known to inhibit oxidation. Antioxidantssuitable for use in accordance with the present invention include, butare not limited to, butylated hydroxytoluene, ascorbic acid, sodiumascorbate, calcium ascorbate, ascorbic palmitate, butylatedhydroxyanisole, 2,4,5-trihydroxybutyrophenone,4-hydroxymethyl-2,6-di-tert-butylphenol, erythorbic acid, gum guaiac,propyl gallate, thiodipropionic acid, dilauryl thiodipropionate,tert-butylhydroquinone and tocopherols such as vitamin E, and the like,including pharmaceutically acceptable salts and esters of thesecompounds. Preferably, the antioxidant is butylated hydroxytoluene,butylated hydroxyanisole, propyl gallate, ascorbic acid,pharmaceutically acceptable salts or esters thereof, or mixturesthereof. Most preferably, the antioxidant is butylated hydroxytoluene.

The topical pharmaceutical compositions may also comprise suitablepreservatives. Preservatives are compounds added to a pharmaceuticalformulation to act as an anti-microbial agent. Among preservatives knownin the art as being effective and acceptable in parenteral formulationsare benzalkonium chloride, benzethonium, chlorohexidine, phenol,m-cresol, benzyl alcohol, methylparaben, propylparaben, chlorobutanol,o-cresol, p-cresol, chlorocresol, phenylmercuric nitrate, thimerosal,benzoic acid, and various mixtures thereof. See, e.g., Wallhausser,K.-H., Develop. Biol. Standard, 24:9-28 (1974) (S. Krager, Basel).

The topical pharmaceutical compositions may also comprise suitablechelating agents to form complexes with metal cations that do not crossa lipid bilayer. Examples of suitable chelating agents include ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), ethylene glycol-bis(beta-aminoethylether)-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) and8-amino-2-[(2-amino-5-methylphenoxy)methyl]-6-methoxyquinoline-N,N,N′,N′-tetraaceticacid, tetrapotassium salt (QUIN-2). Preferably the chelating agents areEDTA and citric acid.

The topical pharmaceutical compositions may also comprise suitableneutralizing agents used to adjust the pH of the formulation to within apharmaceutically acceptable range. Examples of neutralizing agentsinclude but are not limited to trolamine, tromethamine, sodiumhydroxide, hydrochloric acid, citric acid, and acetic acid.

The topical pharmaceutical compositions may also comprise suitableviscosity increasing agents. These components are diffusible compoundscapable of increasing the viscosity of a polymer-containing solutionthrough the interaction of the agent with the polymer. Carbopol Ultrez10 may be used as a viscosity-increasing agent.

Liquid forms, such as lotions suitable for topical administration mayinclude a suitable aqueous or non-aqueous vehicle with buffers,suspending and dispensing agents, thickeners, penetration enhancers, andthe like. Solid forms such as creams or pastes or the like may include,for example, any of the following ingredients, water, oil, alcohol orgrease as a substrate with surfactant, polymers such as polyethyleneglycol, thickeners, solids and the like. Liquid or solid formulationsmay include enhanced delivery technologies such as liposomes,microsomes, microsponges and the like. Additionally, the compounds canbe delivered using a sustained-release system, such as semipermeablematrices of solid hydrophobic polymers containing the therapeutic agent.Various sustained-release materials have been established and are wellknown by those skilled in the art.

When formulated for topical application, compound (I), or apharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof, may be present at between 0.1and 50% by weight. In some embodiments, compound (I), or apharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof, is present at between 0.1 and25% by weight. In some embodiments, compound (I), or apharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof, is present at between 0.1 and10% by weight. In some embodiments, compound (I), or apharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof, is present at between 0.25 and5% by weight. In some embodiments, compound (I), or apharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof, is present at between 0.25 and2% by weight. In some embodiments, compound (I), or apharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof, is present at between 0.25 and1% by weight. In some embodiments, compound (I), or apharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof, is present at between 0.05 and0.5% by weight.

In some embodiments, compound (I), or a pharmaceutically-acceptable saltthereof, is present at about 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8,0.9, 1, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3,2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 3, 3.25, 3.5, 3.75, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6,6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5 or 10% by weight.

In some embodiments, the pharmaceutical composition comprising compound(I), or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof, further comprisesone or more additional therapeutic agents. In some embodiments, the oneor more additional therapeutic agents is useful to treat an autoimmuneskin disease. In some embodiments, the one or more additionaltherapeutic agents is useful to treat an inflammatory skin disease. Insome embodiments, the one or more additional therapeutic agents isuseful to treat atopic dermatitis. In some embodiments, the one or moreadditional therapeutic agents is useful to treat alopecia areata.Specific class of compounds or specific compounds that may be combinedwith compound (I) in a pharmaceutical composition are exemplified inlater paragraphs.

The following non-limiting examples illustrate representativepharmaceutical compositions of the present invention.

Tablet Oral Solid Dosage Form

Compound (I) or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof is dryblended with microcrystalline cellulose, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, andcrosscarmellose sodium in a ratio of 4:5:1:1 and compressed into tabletsto provide a unit dosage of, for example, 5 mg, 20 mg or 40 mg activeagent per tablet.

Capsule Oral Solid Dosage Form

Compound (I) or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof is combinedwith microcrystalline cellulose, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, andcrosscarmellose sodium in a ratio of 4:5:1:1 by wet granulation andloaded into gelatin or hydroxypropyl methylcellulose capsules to providea unit dosage of, for example, 5 mg, 20 mg or 40 mg active agent percapsule.

Liquid Formulation

A liquid formulation comprising compound (I) or apharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof (0.1%), water (98.9%) andascorbic acid (1.0%) is formed by adding a compound of the invention, ora pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof, to a mixture of water andascorbic acid.

Enteric Coated Oral Dosage Form

Compound (I) or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof, is dissolvedin an aqueous solution containing polyvinyl pyrrolidone and spray coatedonto microcrystalline+cellulose or sugar beads in a ratio of 1:5 w/wactive agent:beads and then an approximately 5% weight gain of anenteric coating comprising an acrylic copolymer, for example acombination of acrylic copolymers available under the trade namesEudragit-L® and Eudragit-S®, or hydroxypropyl methylcellulose acetatesuccinate is applied. The enteric coated beads are loaded into gelatinor hydroxypropyl methylcellulose capsules to provide a unit dosage of,for example, 30 mg active agent per capsule.

Enteric Coated Oral Dosage Form

An enteric coating comprising a combination of Eudragit-L® andEudragit-S®, or hydroxypropyl methylcellulose acetate succinate isapplied to a tablet oral dosage form or a capsule oral dosage formdescribed above.

Ointment Formulation for Topical Administration

Compound (I) or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof is combinedwith petrolatum, C₈-C₁₀ triglyceride, octylhydroxystearate, andN-methylpyrrolidone in a ratio to provide a composition containing 0.05%to 5% of active agent by weight.

Ointment Formulation for Topical Administration

Compound (I) or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof is combinedwith petrolatum, C₅-C₁₀ triglyceride, octylhydroxystearate, benzylalcohol and N-methylpyrrolidone in a ratio to provide a compositioncontaining 0.05% to 5% of active agent by weight.

Ointment Formulation for Topical Administration

Compound (I) or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof is combinedwith white petrolatum, propylene glycol, mono- and di-glycerides,paraffin, butylated hydroxytoluene, and edetate calcium disodium in aratio to provide a composition containing 0.05% to 5% active agent byweight.

Ointment Formulation for Topical Administration

Compound (I) or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof is combinedwith mineral oil, paraffin, propylene carbonate, white petrolatum andwhite wax to provide a composition containing 0.05% to 5% active agentby weight.

Cream Formulation for Topical Administration

Mineral oil is combined with Compound (I) or apharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof, propylene glycol, isopropylpalmitate, polysorbate 60, cetyl alcohol, sorbitan monostearate,polyoxyl 40 stearate, sorbic acid, methylparaben and propylparaben toform an oil phase, which is combined with purified water by shearblending to provide a composition containing 0.05% to 5% active agent byweight.

Cream Formulation for Topical Administration

A cream formulation comprising Compound (I) or apharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof, benzyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol,citric acid anhydrous, mono and di-glycerides, oleyl alcohol, propyleneglycol, sodium cetostearyl sulphate, sodium hydroxide, stearyl alcohol,triglycerides, and water contains 0.05% to 5% active agent by weight.

Cream Formulation for Topical Administration

A cream formulation comprising Compound (I) or apharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof, cetostearyl alcohol, isopropylmyristate, propylene glycol, cetomacrogol 1000, dimethicone 360, citricacid, sodium citrate, and purified water, with imidurea, methylparaben,and propylparaben, as preservatives, contains 0.05% to 5% active agentby weight.

Cream Formulation for Topical Administration

A cream formulation comprising Compound (I) or apharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof, stearic acid, cetostearylalcohol, isopropyl palmitate, octylhydroxystearate, BRIJ S2 (PEG 2Stearyl Ether), BRIJ S20 (PEG 20 Stearyl Ether), N-Methylpyrrolidine,PEG and water contains 0.05% to 5% active agent by weight.

Cream Formulation for Topical Administration

A cream formulation comprising Compound (I) or apharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof, stearic acid, cetostearylalcohol, isopropyl palmitate, octylhydroxystearate, BRIJ S2 (PEG 2Stearyl Ether), BRIJ S20 (PEG 20 Stearyl Ether), N-Methylpyrrolidine,PEG400 and water contains 0.05% to 5% active agent by weight.

Utility

Compound (I) has been shown to be a potent inhibitor of the JAK familyof enzymes: JAK1, JAK2, JAK3, and TYK2. Inhibition of the family of JAKenzymes could inhibit signaling of many key pro-inflammatory cytokines.Thus Compound (I) is expected to be useful in the treatment ofinflammatory diseases such as gastrointestinal inflammatory diseases,inflammatory and pruritic skin diseases, inflammatory ocular diseasesand inflammatory respiratory diseases.

Inflammatory Skin Disease

Atopic dermatitis has been associated with elevation of proinflammatorycytokines that rely on the JAK-STAT pathway, in particular, IL-4, IL-5,IL-10, IL-13, and IFNγ. Since compound (I) exhibits potent inhibition atall four JAK enzymes, it is expected to potently inhibit theproinflammatory cytokines characteristic of atopic dermatitis and otherinflammatory skin diseases. Compound (I) was also shown here to exhibita pIC₅₀ value of 7.8 for inhibition of TSLP induced TARC in assay 4.Compound (I) exhibited a pIC₅₀ value of 8.5 for inhibition of IL-13induced STAT6 phosphorylation in the cellular assays described in Assay2. Compound (I) also exhibited a pIC₅₀ value of 8.3 for inhibition ofIL-13 induced STAT6 phosphorylation in normal human epidermalkeratinocytes in Assay 13. Furthermore, model cream and ointmentformulations of compound (I) of Assay 6 have demonstrated significantcompound exposure in the epidermis and dermis layers in mini-pigswithout detectable plasma exposure. In an ex vivo pharmacodynamic assayusing human freshly excised skin, compound (I) was shown to inhibitCXCL10 and CCL2 gene expression. Compound (I) was shown to exhibit goodpermeability in a human skin assay. Compound (I) also inhibitedIL-31-induced production of pSTAT3 production by 80% in an in vivo modelin Assay 9. Finally, compound (I) exhibited a dose-dependent effect in aTPA-induced irritant contact dermatitis model in mice in Assay 10.

Compound (I) has also been shown to exhibit a pIC₅₀ value of 8.4 forinhibition of IL-2 induced STAT5 phosphorylation in the cellular assaysdescribed in Assay 11, a pIC₅₀ value of 7.2 for inhibition of IL-12induced STAT4 phosphorylation in human CD3+ T cells in Assay 12, a pIC₅₀value of 8.4 for inhibition of IL-22 induced STAT3 phosphorylation innormal human epidermal keratinocytes in Assay 14. Finally, recovery ofcompound (I) for interleukin-22 (IL-22) suppressed Filaggrin expressionwas observed at a concentration<1 μM. IL-12, IL-22, and IL-23 arecytokines implicated in psoriasis (Baliwag et al., Cytokine, 2015,73(2), 342-350 2015). These cytokines signal through JAK2 and Tyk2enzymes (Ishizaki et al., J. Immunol., 2011, 187, 181-189). Antibodytherapies targeting these cytokines have demonstrated clinical utilityin psoriasis (Schadler et al., Disease-a-Month, 2018, 1-40). A topicalJAK inhibitor that can block these cytokines would be expected to beefficacious in this disease. Because these cytokines signal through Tyk2and JAK2, Compound (I) is expected to have activity in this disease.

It is expected that sustained dermal levels of JAK inhibitors in theabsence of significant systemic levels will result in potent localanti-inflammatory and anti-pruritic activity in the skin withoutsystemically-driven adverse effects. Such compounds are expected to bebeneficial in a number of dermal inflammatory or pruritic conditionsthat include, but are not limited to atopic dermatitis, vitiligo,cutaneous T cell lymphoma and subtypes (Sezary syndrome, mycosisfungoides, pagetoid reticulosis, granulomatous slack skin, lymphomatoidpapulosis, pityriasis lichenoides chronica, pityriasis lichenoides etvarioliformis acuta, CD30+ cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, secondarycutaneous CD30+ large cell lymphoma, non-mycosis fungoides CD30−cutaneous large T-cell lymphoma, pleomorphic T-cell lymphoma, Lennertlymphoma, subcutaneous T-cell lymphoma, angiocentric lymphoma, blasticNK-cell lymphoma), prurigo nodularis, lichen planus, contact dermatitis,dyshidrotic eczema, eczema, nummular dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis,stasis dermatitis, primary localized cutaneous amyloidosis, bullouspemphigoid, skin manifestations of graft versus host disease,pemphigoid, discoid lupus, granuloma annulare, lichen simplex chronicus,pruritus, vulvar/scrotal/perianal pruritus, lichen sclerosus, postherpetic neuralgia itch, lichen planopilaris, psoriasis, and foliculitisdecalvans. In particular, atopic dermatitis (Bao et al., JAK-STAT, 2013,2, e24137), alopecia areata (Xing et al., Nat Med. 2014, 20, 1043-1049)including subtypes such as alopecia areata monolocularis, alopeciaareata multilocularis, ophiasis, alopecia areata universalis, alopeciaareata totalis, and alopecia areata barbae, vitiligo (Craiglow et al,JAMA Dermatol. 2015, 151, 1110-1112), cutaneous T cell lymphoma(Netchiporouk et al., Cell Cycle. 2014; 13, 3331-3335), prurigonodularis (Sonkoly et al., J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2006, 117, 411-417),lichen planus (Welz-Kubiak et al., J Immunol Res. 2015, ID:854747),primary localized cutaneous amyloidosis (Tanaka et al., Br J Dermatol.2009, 161, 1217-1224), bullous pemphigoid (Feliciani et al., Int JImmunopathol Pharmacol. 1999, 12, 55-61), and dermal manifestations ofgraft versus host disease (Okiyama et al., J Invest Dermatol. 2014, 134,992-1000) are characterized by elevation of certain cytokines thatsignal via JAK activation. Accordingly, compound (I) may be able toalleviate associated dermal inflammation or pruritus driven by thesecytokines. In particular, compound (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptablesalt thereof, is expected to be useful for the treatment of atopicdermatitis and other inflammatory skin diseases.

As illustrated in Table 13, compound (I) has been shown to have highclearance in human microsomes. As such, it has the advantage of beingrapidly cleared, which minimizes systemic exposure and reduces the riskof adverse effects.

As illustrated in Table 13, compound (I) also possesses highpermeability which is beneficial for skin indications as it appears tobe connected to better penetration in the skin.

In some embodiments, therefore, the invention provides a method oftreating an inflammatory or autoimmune skin disease in a mammal (e.g., ahuman), comprising applying a pharmaceutical composition comprisingcompound (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and apharmaceutical carrier to the skin of the mammal.

In some embodiments, the invention provides a method of treating aninflammatory or autoimmune skin disease in a mammal (e.g., a human),comprising administering compound (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptablesalt thereof, to the mammal.

In some embodiments, the inflammatory skin disease is atopic dermatitis.In some embodiments, the atopic dermatitis is mild to moderate. In someembodiments, the atopic dermatitis is moderate to severe.

In some embodiments, the autoimmune skin disease is alopecia areata.

Compound (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, may also beused in combination with one or more compound useful to treatinflammatory skin diseases. In some embodiments, the one or morecompound is a steroid, corticosteroid, antibiotic, Histamine H1 receptorantagonist, calcineurin inhibitor, IL-13 antagonist, PDE 4 inhibitor,G-protein coupled receptor-44 antagonist, IL-4 antagonist, 5-HT 1areceptor antagonist, 5-HT 2b receptor antagonist, Alpha 2 adrenoceptoragonist, cannabinoid CB1 receptor antagonist, CCR3 chemokine,antagonist, collagenase inhibitor, cytosolic phospholipase A2 inhibitor,eotaxin ligand inhibitor, GATA 3 transcription factor inhibitor,Histamine H4 receptor antagonist, IL-10 antagonist, IL-12 antagonist,IL-17 antagonist, IL-2 antagonist, IL-23 antagonist, IL-4 receptormodulator, IL-15 antagonist, IL-6 antagonist, IL-8 antagonist, IL-9antagonist, IL-5 antagonist, immunoglobulin E antagonist, immunoglobulinE modulator, interferon gamma receptor antagonist, Interferon gammaligand, Interleukin 33 ligand inhibitor, Interleukin-31 receptorantagonist, Leukotriene antagonist, Liver X receptor agonist, Liver Xreceptor beta agonist, nuclear factor kappa B inhibitor, OX-40 receptorantagonist, PGD2 antagonist, phospholipase A2 inhibitor, SH2 domaininositol phosphatase 1 stimulator, thymic stromal lymphoprotein ligandinhibitor, TLR modulator, TNF alpha ligand modulator, TLR9 genestimulator, cytotoxic T-lymphocyte protein-4 stimulator, opioid receptorkappa agonist, galectin-3 inhibitor, histone deacetylase-1 inhibitor,histone deacetylase-2 inhibitor, histone deacetylase-3 inhibitor,histone deacetylase-6 inhibitor, histone deacetylase inhibitor,glucocorticoid agonist, Syk tyrosine kinase inhibitor, TrkA receptorantagonist, integrin alpha-4/beta-1 antagonist, Interleukin 1 likereceptor antagonist, Interleukin-1 converting enzyme inhibitor,Interleukin-31 receptor antagonist, KCNA voltage-gated potassiumchannel-3 inhibitor, PDE4B gene inhibitor, Kallikrein 2 inhibitor,sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor-1 agonist, retinal pigment epitheliumprotein stimulator, T cell surface glycoprotein CD28 inhibitor, TGF betaantagonist or vanilloid VR1 antagonist.

In some embodiments, compound (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable saltthereof, is administered in combination with betamethasone, fucidicacid, GR-MD-02, dupilumab, rosiptor acetate, AS-101, ciclosporin,IMD-0354, secukinumab, Actimmune, lebrikizumab, CMP-001, mepolizumab,pegcantratinib, tezepelumab, MM-36, crisaborole, ALX-101, bertilimumab,FB-825, AX-1602, BNZ-1, abatacept, tacrolimus, ANB-020, JTE-052,ZPL-389, ustekinumab, GBR-830, GSK-3772847, ASN-002, remetinostat,apremilast, timapiprant, MOR-106, asivatrep, nemolizumab, fevipiprant,doxycycline, MDPK-67b, desloratadine, tralokinumab, fexofenadine,pimecrolimus, bepotastine, nalfurafine, VTP-38543, Q-301, ligelizumab,RVT-201, DMT-210, KPI-150, AKP-11, E-6005, AMG-0101, AVX-001, PG-102,ZPL-521, MEDI-9314, AM-1030, WOL-071007, MT-0814, betamethasonevalerate, SB-011, epinastine, tacrolimus, tranilast, or viromed, or anycombination thereof.

In some embodiments, compound (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable saltthereof, is administered in combination with a steroid, an antibioticand a moisturizer (Lakhani et al., Pediatric Dermatology, 2017, 34, 3,322-325). In some embodiments, the one or more compound is a grampositive antibiotic, such as mupirocin or fusidic acid.

Compound (I), or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof, may also beused in combination with gram positive antibiotics, such as mupirocinand fusidic acid, to treat inflammatory skin disease. In one aspect,therefore, the invention provides a method of treating an inflammatoryskin disease in a mammal, the method comprising applying a compound ofthe invention, or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof, and a grampositive antibiotic to the skin of the mammal. In another aspect, theinvention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound ofthe invention, or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof, a grampositive antibiotic, and a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier.

In another aspect, therefore, the invention provides a therapeuticcombination for use in the treatment of skin inflammatory disorders, thecombination comprising compound (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptablesalt thereof and one or more other therapeutic agents useful fortreating skin inflammatory disorders. Secondary agent(s), when included,are present in a therapeutically effective amount, i.e. in any amountthat produces a therapeutically beneficial effect when co-administeredwith compound (I), or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof.

Also provided, therefore, is a pharmaceutical composition comprisingcompound (I), or a pharmaceutically salt thereof and one or more othertherapeutic agents useful for treating skin inflammatory disorders.

Further, in a method aspect, the invention provides a method of treatingskin inflammatory disorders, the method comprising administering to themammal Compound (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, andone or more other therapeutic agents useful for treating skininflammatory disorders.

Gastrointestinal Inflammatory Disease

Due to its inhibition of the JAK family of enzymes, compound (I) isexpected to be useful for a variety of gastrointestinal inflammatoryindications that include, but are not limited to, ulcerative colitis(proctosigmoiditis, pancolitis, ulcerative proctitis and left-sidedcolitis), Crohn's disease, collagenous colitis, lymphocytic colitis,Behcet's disease, celiac disease, immune checkpoint inhibitor inducedcolitis, ileitis, eosinophilic esophagitis, graft versus hostdisease-related colitis, and infectious colitis. Ulcerative colitis(Reimund et al., J Clin Immunology, 1996, 16, 144-150), Crohn's disease(Woywodt et al., Eur J Gastroenterology Hepatology, 1999, 11, 267-276),collagenous colitis (Kumawat et al., Mol Immunology, 2013, 55, 355-364),lymphocytic colitis (Kumawat et al., 2013), eosinophilic esophagitis(Weinbrand-Goichberg et al., Immunol Res, 2013, 56, 249-260), graftversus host disease-related colitis (Coghill et al., Blood, 2001, 117,3268-3276), infectious colitis (Stallmach et al., Int J Colorectal Dis,2004, 19, 308-315), Behcet's disease (Zhou et al., Autoimmun Rev, 2012,11, 699-704), celiac disease (de Nitto et al., World J Gastroenterol,2009, 15, 4609-4614), immune checkpoint inhibitor induced colitis (e.g.,CTLA-4 inhibitor-induced colitis; (Yano et al., J Translation Med, 2014,12, 191), PD-1- or PD-L1-inhibitor-induced colitis), and ileitis(Yamamoto et al., Dig Liver Dis, 2008, 40, 253-259) are characterized byelevation of certain pro-inflammatory cytokine levels. As manypro-inflammatory cytokines signal via JAK activation, compoundsdescribed in this application may be able to alleviate the inflammationand provide symptom relief.

In some embodiments, therefore, the disclosure provides a method oftreating a gastrointestinal inflammatory disease in a mammal (e.g., ahuman), comprising administering to the mammal a pharmaceuticalcomposition comprising a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier andcompound (I) or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof.

In some embodiments, the disclosure provides a method of treating agastrointestinal inflammatory disease in a mammal (e.g., a human),comprising administering to the mammal compound (I), or apharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

The invention further provides a method of treating ulcerative colitisin a mammal, the method comprising administering to the mammal acompound of the invention, or a pharmaceutically-acceptable saltthereof, or a pharmaceutical composition comprising apharmaceutically-acceptable carrier and a compound of the invention, ora pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof.

When used to treat ulcerative colitis, the compound of the inventionwill typically be administered orally in a single daily dose or inmultiple doses per day, although other forms of administration may beused. The amount of active agent administered per dose or the totalamount administered per day will typically be determined by a physician,in the light of the relevant circumstances, including the condition tobe treated, the chosen route of administration, the actual compoundadministered and its relative activity, the age, weight, and response ofthe individual patient, the severity of the patient's symptoms, and thelike.

Suitable doses for treating ulcerative colitis and othergastrointestinal inflammatory disorders are expected to range from about1 to about 400 mg/day of active agent, including from about 5 to about300 mg/day and from about 20 to about 70 mg per day of active agent foran average 70 kg human.

Compound (I), or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof, may also beused in combination with one or more agents which act by the samemechanism or by different mechanisms to effect treatment ofgastrointestinal inflammatory disorders. Useful classes of agents forcombination therapy include, but are not limited to, aminosalicylates,steroids, systemic immunosuppressants, anti-TNFα antibodies, anti-VLA-4antibodies, anti-integrin α₄β₇ antibodies, anti-bacterial agents, andanti-diarrheal medicines.

Aminosalicylates that may be used in combination with compound (I),include, but are not limited to, mesalamine, osalazine andsulfasalazine. Examples of steroids include, but are not limited to,prednisone, prednisolone, hydrocortisone, budesonide, beclomethasone,and fluticasone. Systemic immunosuppressants useful for treatment ofinflammatory disorders include, but are not limited to cyclosporine,azathioprine, methotrexate, 6-mercaptopurine, and tacrolimus. Further,anti-TNFα antibodies, which include, but are not limited to, infliximab,adalimumab, golimumab, and certolizumab, may be used in combinationtherapy. Useful compounds acting by other mechanisms include anti-VLA-4antibodies, such as natalizumab, anti-integrin α₄β₇ antibodies, such asvedolizumab, anti-bacterial agents, such as rifaximin, andanti-diarrheal medicines, such as loperamide. (Mozaffari et al. ExpertOpin. Biol. Ther. 2014, 14, 583-600; Danese, Gut, 2012, 61, 918-932; Lamet al., Immunotherapy, 2014, 6, 963-971).

In another aspect, therefore, the invention provides a therapeuticcombination for use in the treatment of gastrointestinal inflammatorydisorders, the combination comprising a compound of the invention, or apharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof, and one or more othertherapeutic agents useful for treating gastrointestinal inflammatorydisorders. For example, the invention provides a combination comprisinga compound of the invention, or a pharmaceutically-acceptable saltthereof, and one or more agents selected from aminosalicylates,steroids, systemic immunosuppressants, anti-TNFα antibodies, anti-VLA-4antibodies, anti-integrin α₄β₇ antibodies, anti-bacterial agents, andanti-diarrheal medicines. Secondary agent(s), when included, are presentin a therapeutically effective amount, i.e. in any amount that producesa therapeutically beneficial effect when co-administered with a compoundof the invention, or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof.

Also provided, therefore, is a pharmaceutical composition comprisingcompound (I), or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof, and one ormore other therapeutic agents useful for treating gastrointestinalinflammatory disorders.

Further, in a method aspect, the invention provides a method of treatinggastrointestinal inflammatory disorders, the method comprisingadministering to the mammal Compound (I), or a pharmaceuticallyacceptable salt thereof, and one or more other therapeutic agents usefulfor treating gastrointestinal inflammatory disorders.

Respiratory Diseases

Cytokines which signal through the JAK-STAT pathway, in particular IL-2,IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-9, IL-11, IL-13, IL-23, IL-31, IL-27, thymicstromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), interferon-γ (IFNγ) andgranulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) have beenimplicated in asthma inflammation and in other inflammatory respiratorydiseases. As described above, Compound (I) has been shown to be a potentinhibitor of JAK kinases and has demonstrated potent inhibition of IL-13pro-inflammatory cytokines in cellular assays.

The anti-inflammatory activity of JAK inhibitors has been robustlydemonstrated in preclinical models of asthma (Malaviya et al., IntImmunopharmacol, 2010, 10, 829,-836; Matsunaga et al., Biochem andBiophys Res Commun, 2011, 404, 261-267; Kudlacz et al., Eur J Pharmacol,2008, 582, 154-161.) Accordingly, the compound (I), or apharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, may be useful for thetreatment of inflammatory respiratory disorders such as asthma.Inflammation and fibrosis of the lung is characteristic of otherrespiratory diseases in addition to asthma such as chronic obstructivepulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis (CF), pneumonitis,interstitial lung diseases (including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis),acute lung injury, acute respiratory distress syndrome, bronchitis,emphysema, and bronchiolitis obliterans. Compound (I), or apharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, therefore, may be useful forthe treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis,pneumonitis, interstitial lung diseases (including idiopathic pulmonaryfibrosis), acute lung injury, acute respiratory distress syndrome,bronchitis, emphysema, bronchiolitis obliterans, chronic lung allograftdysfunction (CLAD), lung transplant rejections, and sarcoidosis.

In one aspect, therefore, the disclosure provides a method of treating arespiratory disease in a mammal (e.g., a human) comprising administeringto the mammal compound (I), or a pharmaceutically-acceptable saltthereof.

In one aspect, the respiratory disease is asthma, chronic obstructivepulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, pneumonitis, chronic obstructivepulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis (CF), pneumonitis,interstitial lung diseases (including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis),acute lung injury, acute respiratory distress syndrome, bronchitis,emphysema, bronchiolitis obliterans, allergic rhinitis or sarcoidosis.In another aspect, the respiratory disease is asthma or chronicobstructive pulmonary disease.

In a further aspect, the respiratory disease is a lung infection, ahelminthic infection, pulmonary arterial hypertension, sarcoidosis,lymphangioleiomyomatosis, bronchiectasis, or an infiltrative pulmonarydisease. In yet another aspect, the respiratory disease is drug-inducedpneumonitis, fungal induced pneumonitis, allergic bronchopulmonaryaspergillosis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, eosinophilic granulomatosiswith polyangiitis, idiopathic acute eosinophilic pneumonia, idiopathicchronic eosinophilic pneumonia, hypereosinophilic syndrome, Lofflersyndrome, bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia, orimmune-checkpoint-inhibitor induced pneumonitis.

The invention further provides a method of treating a respiratorydisease, the method comprising administering to the mammal apharmaceutical composition comprising compound (I), or apharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof and apharmaceutically-acceptable carrier.

Compound (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, may also beused in combination with one or more compound useful to respiratorydiseases.

Ocular Diseases

Many ocular diseases have been associated with elevations ofproinflammatory cytokines that rely on the JAK-STAT pathway.

Compound (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, therefore,may be useful for the treatment of a number of ocular diseases thatinclude, but are not limited to, uveitis, diabetic retinopathy, diabeticmacular edema, dry eye disease, age-related macular degeneration, andatopic keratoconjunctivitis.

In particular, uveitis (Horai and Caspi, J Interferon Cytokine Res,2011, 31, 733-744), diabetic retinopathy (Abcouwer, J Clin Cell Immunol,2013, Suppl 1, 1-12), diabetic macular edema (Sohn et al., AmericanJournal of Opthamology, 2011, 152, 686-694), dry eye disease (Stevensonet al, Arch Ophthalmol, 2012, 130, 90-100), retinal vein occlusion(Shchuko et al, Indian Journal of Ophthalmology, 2015, 63(12), 905-911),and age-related macular degeneration (Knickelbein et al, Int OphthalmolClin, 2015, 55(3), 63-78) are characterized by elevation of certainpro-inflammatory cytokines that signal via the JAK-STAT pathway.Accordingly, compound (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable saltthereof, may be able to alleviate the associated ocular inflammation andreverse disease progression or provide symptom relief.

In one aspect, therefore, the invention provides a method of treating anocular disease in a mammal comprising administering compound (I), or apharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof or a pharmaceutical compositioncomprising compound (I), or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereofand a pharmaceutical carrier to the eye of the mammal. In one aspect,the ocular disease is uveitis, diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macularedema, dry eye disease, age-related macular degeneration, or atopickeratoconjunctivitis. In one aspect, the method comprises administeringcompound (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof byintravitreal injection.

Compound (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, may also beused in combination with one or more compound useful to ocular diseases.

Other Diseases

Compound (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, may also beuseful to treat other diseases such as other inflammatory diseases,autoimmune diseases or cancers.

Compound (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, may beuseful to treat oral cavities, oral mucositis and recurrent aphthousstomatitis.

Compound (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, may beuseful to treat one or more of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, juvenilerheumatoid arthritis, transplant rejection, xerophthalmia, psoriaticarthritis, diabetes, insulin dependent diabetes, motor neurone disease,myelodysplastic syndrome, pain, sarcopenia, cachexia, septic shock,systemic lupus erythematosus, leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia,chronic myelocytic leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, acutemyelogenous leukemia, ankylosing spondylitis, myelofibrosis, B-celllymphoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, Hodgkins disease, breast cancer,Multiple myeloma, melanoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, non-small-cell lungcancer, ovarian clear cell carcinoma, ovary tumor, pancreas tumor,polycythemia vera, Sjoegrens syndrome, soft tissue sarcoma, sarcoma,splenomegaly, T-cell lymphoma, and thalassemia major.

The disclosure, thereof, provides a method of treating these diseases ina mammal comprising administering compound (I), or apharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof or a pharmaceutical compositioncomprising compound (I), or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereofand a pharmaceutical carrier to the mammal.

In the previous paragraphs, when used in combination therapy, the agentsmay be formulated in a single pharmaceutical composition, as disclosedabove, or the agents may be provided in separate compositions that areadministered simultaneously or at separate times, by the same or bydifferent routes of administration. When administered separately, theagents are administered sufficiently close in time so as to provide adesired therapeutic effect. Such compositions can be packaged separatelyor may be packaged together as a kit. The two or more therapeutic agentsin the kit may be administered by the same route of administration or bydifferent routes of administration.

EXAMPLES

The following synthetic and biological examples are offered toillustrate the invention, and are not to be construed in any way aslimiting the scope of the invention. In the examples below, thefollowing abbreviations have the following meanings unless otherwiseindicated. Abbreviations not defined below have their generally acceptedmeanings.

-   -   ACN=acetonitrile    -   Bn=benzyl    -   Boc=tert-Butyloxycarbonyl    -   d=day(s)    -   DIPEA=N,N-diisopropylethylamine    -   DMF=N,N-dimethylformamide    -   DMSO=dimethyl sulfoxide    -   EtOAc=ethyl acetate    -   EtOH=ethyl alcohol    -   h=hour(s)    -   HATU=N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-O-(7-azabenzotriazol-1-yl)uronium        hexafluorophosphate    -   IPA=isopropyl alcohol    -   MeOH=methanol    -   min=minute(s)    -   NMP=N-methylpyrrolidone    -   RT=room temperature    -   TEA=triethylamine    -   THF=tetrahydrofuran    -   TFA=trifluoroacetic acid

Reagents and solvents were purchased from commercial suppliers (Aldrich,Fluka, Sigma, etc.), and used without further purification. Progress ofreaction mixtures was monitored by thin layer chromatography (TLC),analytical high performance liquid chromatography (anal. HPLC), and/ormass spectrometry. Reaction mixtures were worked up as describedspecifically in each reaction; commonly they were purified by extractionand other purification methods such as temperature-, andsolvent-dependent crystallization, and precipitation. In addition,reaction mixtures were routinely purified by column chromatography or bypreparative HPLC, typically using C18 or BDS column packings andconventional eluents. Typical preparative HPLC conditions are describedbelow.

Characterization of reaction products was routinely carried out by massand ¹H-NMR spectrometry. For NMR analysis, samples were dissolved indeuterated solvent (such as CD₃OD, CDCl₃, or d₆-DMSO), and ¹H-NMRspectra were acquired with a Varian Gemini 2000 instrument (400 MHz)under standard observation conditions. Mass spectrometric identificationof compounds was performed by an electrospray ionization method (ESMS)with an Applied Biosystems (Foster City, Calif.) model API 150 EXinstrument or a Waters (Milford, Mass.) 3100 instrument, coupled toautopurification systems.

Unless otherwise indicated the following conditions were used forpreparative HPLC purifications.

Column: C18, 5 μm 21.2×150 mm or C18, 5 μm 21×250 mm or

-   -   C14, 5 μm 21×150 mm        Column temperature: Room Temperature        Flow rate: 20.0 mL/min        Mobile Phases: A=Water+0.05% TFA    -   B=ACN+0.05% TFA,        Injection volume: (100-1500 μL)        Detector wavelength: 214 nm

Crude compounds were dissolved in 1:1 water:acetic acid at about 50mg/mL. A 4 minute analytical scale test run was carried out using a2.1×50 mm C18 column followed by a 15 or 20 minute preparative scale runusing 100 μL injection with the gradient based on the % B retention ofthe analytical scale test run. Exact gradients were sample dependent.Samples with close running impurities were checked with a 21×250 mm C18column and/or a 21×150 mm C14 column for best separation. Fractionscontaining desired product were identified by mass spectrometricanalysis.

Analytic HPLC Conditions

Method A

Column: LUNA C18 (2), 150×4.60 mm, 3 μm

Column temperature: 37° C.

Flow rate: 1.0 mL/min

Injection volume: 5 μL

Sample preparation: Dissolve in 1:1 ACN:water

Mobile Phases: A=Water:ACN:TFA (98:2:0.05)

-   -   B=Water:ACN:TFA (2:98:0.05)        Detector wavelength: 250 nm        Gradient: 32 min total (time (min)/% B): 0/2, 10/20, 24/90,        29/90, 30/2, 32/2        Method B        Column: LUNA C18 (2), 150×4.60 mm, 3 μm        Column temperature: 37° C.        Flow rate: 1.0 mL/min        Injection volume: 10 μL        Sample preparation: Dissolve in 1:1 ACN:water        Mobile Phases: A=Water:ACN:TFA (98:2:0.05)    -   B=Water:ACN:TFA (10:90:0.05)        Detector wavelength: 254 nm        Gradient: 35 min total (time (min)/% B): 0/2, 20/25, 23/90,        26/90, 27/2, 35/2        Method C

Column: Poroshell 120 SB-Aq, 150 mm by 4.6 mm, 2.7 micron part#683975-914

Column temperature: 35° C.

Flow rate: 1.0 mL/min

Injection volume: 5 μL

Sample preparation: Dissolve in 50:MPB:50 MPA

Mobile Phases: A=Acetonitrile:Water:Trifluoroacetic acid (1:99:0.20)

-   -   B=Acetonitrile:Water:Trifluoroacetic acid (90:10:0.20)        Gradient:

Time, min % A % B 0.0 98.0 2.0 16.0 40.0 60.0 22.0 0.0 100.0 25.0 0.0100.0 25.1 98.0 2.0 30.0 98.0 2.0

Preparation 1: tert-butyl((1R,3s,5S)-9-(ethylsulfonyl)-9-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-3-yl)(methyl)carbamate

Step 1:

Five reactions were carried out in parallel. To a solution of compound1-1 (2.00 kg, 13.7 mol, 1.00 eq) in dioxane (5.00 L) and water (20.0 L)was added glutaraldehyde (2.06 kg, 20.5 mol, 1.5 eq) andphenylmethanamine (1.54 kg, 14.4 mol, 1.05 eq) drop-wise at 10° C. Afteraddition, the reaction mixture was stirred at 20° C. for 16 h. TLC(petroleum ether:ethylacetate=5:1, product R_(f)=0.40) and LCMSindicated the reaction was complete. The pH value of the reactionmixture was adjusted to 2 with concentrated HCl (12 N) at 20° C. Afteraddition, the reaction mixture was heated to 60° C. and stirred for 1 h.After cooling to 10° C., ethyl acetate (10.0 L) was added to themixture. Then the pH value of the mixture was adjusted to 10 by addingan aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide (12 N) at 10° C. The mixture wasstirred for 10 min. The organic layer was separated. The aqueous layerwas extracted with ethyl acetate (3.00 L). The combined organic layerswere washed with brine (4.00 L), dried over sodium sulfate, andfiltered. The organic layer for the five parallel reactions was combinedand concentrated. The residue was purified by column chromatography(SiO₂, petroleum ether:ethylacetate=30:1-2:1) to give compound 1-2 (10.0kg, 51.5% yield, 97% purity). (m/z): [M+H]⁺ calcd for C₁₅H₁₉NO 230.15found 230.0. ¹H NMR: 400 MHz DMSO-d₆ δ 7.24-7.41 (m, 5H), 3.88 (s, 2H),3.20-3.21 (m, 2H), 2.73-2.79 (m, 2H), 2.07 (d, J=16.4 Hz, 2H), 1.75-1.84(m, 2H), 1.45-1.50 (m, 3H), 1.24-1.36 (m, 1H).

Step 2:

Three reactions were carried out in parallel. To a solution of compound1-2 (3.00 kg, 13.1 mol, 1.0 eq) in ethyl acetate (24.0 L) and water(9.00 L) was added CH₃COOK (2.05 kg, 20.9 mol, 1.6 eq) and NH₂OH—HCl(1.82 kg, 26.2 mol, 2.0 eq) at 20° C. The suspension was heated to 45°C. and stirred for 16 h. TLC (petroleum ether:ethyl acetate=2:1, productR_(f)=0.30) and LCMS indicated the reaction was complete. The pH valueof the suspension was adjusted to 8 with saturated sodium bicarbonatesolution, then diluted with water (15.0 L) and ethyl acetate (10.0 L).The organic layer was separated. The aqueous layer was extracted withethyl acetate (10.0 L×3). The organic layer of the three reactions wascombined, dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated. Thecrude product was diluted with n-heptane (12.0 L), and stirred for 12 h.The solid was collected by filtration to give compound 1-3 (8.00 kg,83.4% yield). (m/z): [M+H]⁺ calcd for C₁₅H₂₀N₂O 245.16 found 245.1. ¹HNMR: 400 MHz DMSO-d₆ 10.16 (s, 1H), 7.22-7.38 (m, 5H), 3.83 (s, 2H),2.97 (br s, 2H), 2.87 (d, J=16.0 Hz, 1H), 2.60-2.62 (m, 1H), 2.20-2.25(m, 1H), 2.09-2.13 (m, 1H), 1.72-1.85 (m, 3H), 1.39-1.49 (m, 3H).

Step 4:

Forty-five reactions were carried out in parallel. To a solution ofcompound 1-3 (160 g, 655 mmol, 1.0 eq) in n-PrOH (3.20 L) at 110° C. wasadded Na (181 g, 7.86 mol, 12 eq) in portions over 3 h. The mixture wasstirred at 110° C. for 2 h. TLC (petroleum ether:ethylacetate=2:1, SMR_(f)=0.40) indicated the reaction was complete. The mixture was cooledto 70° C., poured into ice water (4.00 L). The aqueous layer wasextracted with ethyl acetate (1.00 L×2). The combined organic layer ofthe forty-five reactions was washed with brine (20.0 L), dried oversodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated. The residue was diluted withn-hexane (12.0 L), stirred for 12 h. The suspension was filtered to getfiltrate. The filtrate was concentrated to give compound 1-4 (6.00 kg,88.4% yield) as a yellow oil. ¹H NMR 400 MHz DMSO-d₆: δ 7.18-7.35 (m,5H), 3.76 (s, 2H), 3.26-3.35 (m, 1H), 2.76 (s, 2H), 1.86-1.90 (m, 2H),1.67-1.73 (m, 2H), 1.54-1.59 (m, 5H), 1.41-1.45 (m, 3H).

Step 5:

Two reactions were carried out in parallel. To a solution of compound1-4 (2.10 kg, 9.12 mol, 1.1 eq) in dioxane (12.6 L) and water (1.26 L)was added Et₃N (1.01 kg, 10.0 mol, 1.1 eq) and (Boc)₂O (2.19 kg, 10.0mol, 1.1 eq) drop-wise at 0° C., with the temperature below 20° C. Themixture was heated to 40° C. and stirred for 10 h. TLC (petroleumether:ethylacetate=2:1, product R_(f)=0.40) showed the reaction wascomplete. The mixture was cooled to 10° C., filtered to get filter cake.The filtrate was concentrated. The filter cake was washed with n-hexane(3.00 L) to give compound 1-5 (4.00 kg, 66.4% yield) as a white solid.¹H NMR: 400 MHz DMSO-d₆: δ 7.28-7.33 (m, 4H), 7.19-7.22 (m, 1H), 6.64(d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 4.10-4.17 (m, 1H), 3.77 (s, 2H), 2.77 (s, 2H),1.88-1.90 (m, 2H), 1.72-1.75 (m, 3H), 1.57-1.61 (m, 3H), 1.43-1.48 (m,2H), 1.38 (s, 9H).

Step 6:

Four reactions were carried out in parallel. To a suspension of compound1-5 (1.50 kg, 4.54 mol, 1.0 eq) in DMF (13.5 L) was added NaH (272 g,6.81 mol, 60% purity, 1.5 eq) portion-wise at 0° C. under N₂. Thesuspension was naturally warmed to 25° C. and stirred for 30 min. Afterit was cooled down to 0° C., MeI (773 g, 5.45 mol, 1.2 eq) was addeddrop-wise to the suspension. The reaction mixture was naturally warmedto 25° C. and stirred for 12 h. TLC (petroleum ether:ethylacetate=5:1,product R_(f)=0.50) and LCMS showed the reaction was complete. Themixture was poured into ice water (30.0 L), extracted with ethyl acetate(9.00 L, 3.00 L). The combined organic layer of the four reactions waswashed with ice water (20.0 L), brine (10.0 L), dried over sodiumsulfate, filtered and concentrated to give compound 1-6 (6.00 kg, crude)as a yellow oil. The crude product was used for the next step. ¹H NMR:400 MHz DMSO-d₆ δ 7.21-7.37 (m, 5H), 4.87 (br s, 1H), 3.80 (s, 2H), 2.86(s, 2H), 2.68 (s, 3H), 1.64-1.99 (m, 6H), 1.40-1.49 (m, 13H). (m/z):[M+H]⁺ calcd for C₂₁H₃₂N₂O₂ 344.25 found 345.2.

Step 7:

Thirty-nine reactions were carried out in parallel. To a solution ofcompound 1-6 (150 g, 435 mmol, 1.0 eq) in IPA (500 mL) and THF (500 mL)was added Pd(OH)₂/C (70 g, 40% purity). The suspension was degassedunder vacuum and purged with H₂ several times. The mixture was stirredunder H₂ (50 psi) at 25° C. for 16 h. TLC (petroleumether:ethylacetate=5:1, SM R_(f)=0.50) and LCMS indicated the reactionwas complete. The thirty-nine reactions were combined. The mixture wasfiltered to get filtrate. The filter cake was washed with IPA/THF (1:1,25.0 L). The combined filtrate was concentrated to give compound 1-7(3.85 kg, crude) as a light yellow oil. The crude product was used forthe next step directly. (m/z): [M+H]⁺ calcd for C₁₄H₂₆N₂O₂ 255.20 found255.1. ¹H NMR: 400 MHz DMSO-d₆ δ 4.88 (br s, 1H), 3.08 (s, 2H), 2.60 (s,3H), 1.73-1.76 (m, 5H), 1.51-1.61 (m, 5H), 1.39 (s, 9H).

Step 8:

Four reactions were carried out in parallel. To a solution of compound1-7 (750 g, 2.95 mol, 1.0 eq) in 2-methyl tetrahydrofuran (3.00 L) wasadded pyridine (466 g, 5.90 mol, 2.0 eq) and ethanesulfonyl chloride(398 g, 3.10 mol, 1.05 eq) drop-wise at 0° C. under N₂. The mixture waswarmed to 25° C. and stirred for 3 h. TLC (petroleumether:ethylacetate=2:1, product R_(f)=0.50) indicated the reaction wascomplete. The four reactions were combined. The mixture was quenchedwith ice water (10.0 L). The organic layer was separated, washed with0.5 N HCl (3.00 L×2). The combined aqueous layer was extracted withethyl acetate (3.00 L), the organic layer was washed with 0.5 N HCl (500mL) again. The combined organic layer was washed with brine (5.00 L),dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated to give compound1-8 (2.20 kg, crude) as a yellow oil. The crude product was used in thenext step. ¹H NMR: 400 MHz DMSO-d₆ δ 4.94 (br s, 1H), 3.98 (s, 2H), 3.10(q, J=7.2 Hz, 2H), 2.58 (s, 3H), 1.83-1.91 (m, 5H), 1.56-1.71 (m, 5H),1.40 (s, 9H), 1.19 (t, J=7.2 Hz, 3H).

Step 9:

Four reactions were carried out in parallel. To a solution of compound1-8 (550 g, 1.59 mol, 1.0 eq) in EtOAc (2.75 L) was added HCl/EtOAc (4M, 3.0 eq) drop-wise at 25° C. The mixture was stirred at 25° C. for 12h. TLC (petroleum ether:ethyl acetate=2:1, SM R_(f)=0.50) showed thereaction was complete. The four reactions were combined. The mixture wasfiltered to get filter cake to give compound 1-9 (1.25 kg, crude, HCl)as a yellow solid. ¹H NMR: 400 MHz DMSO-d₆ δ 9.04 (s, 1H), 4.02 (s, 2H),3.88-3.94 (m, 1H), 3.09 (q, J=7.2 Hz, 2H), 2.09-2.14 (m, 2H), 1.61-1.84(m, 8H), 1.19 (t, J=7.2 Hz, 3H).

Preparation 2:(2-(((1R,3s,5S)-9-(ethylsulfonyl)-9-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-3-yl)(methyl)amino)-5-fluoro-6-((5-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)amino)pyrimidin-4-yl)methanol(I)

Step 1:

A solution of compound 2-1 (1.00 kg, 5.74 mol, 1.0 eq) in ethanol (15.0L) with saturated HCl (1.40 kg, 38.4 mol) was stirred at 90° C. for 60h. HPLC showed one main peak was detected. The reaction mixture wasfiltered. The filter cake was collected to give compound 2-2 (1.00 kg,81.8% yield, 98.8% purity) as a white solid. ¹H NMR: 400 MHz DMSO-d₆ δ11.82 (br s, 1H), 10.82 (br s, 1H), 4.31 (q, J=7.2 Hz, 2H), 1.27 (t,J=6.8 Hz, 3H).

Step 2:

Five reactions were carried out in parallel. To a solution of compound2-2 (560 g, 2.77 mol, 1.0 eq) in POCl₃ (1.68 L) was added N,N-diethylaniline (289 g, 1.94 mol, 0.7 eq). The mixture was stirred at140° C. for 12 h. TLC (petroleum ether:ethyl acetate=10:1, productR_(f)=0.50) indicated compound 2-2 was consumed completely. The fivereactions were combined. The reaction mixture was concentrated underreduced pressure to give a residue. The residue was diluted with ethylacetate (25.0 L). The solution was poured into crushed ice (25.0 L). Thewater phase was extracted with ethyl acetate (25.0 L). The combinedorganic layers were washed with saturated sodium carbonate solution(10.0 L×2), dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated underreduced pressure to give a residue. The residue was purified by columnchromatography (SiO₂, petroleum ether:ethyl acetate=1:0-50:1) to givecompound 2-3 (2.00 kg) as a brown liquid. ¹H NMR: 400 MHz CDCl₃ δ 4.51(q, J=7.2 Hz, 2H), 1.44 (t, J=7.2 Hz, 3H).

Step 3:

Four reactions were carried out in parallel. A mixture of compound 2-3(480 g, 2.01 mol, 1.0 eq), compound 2-4 (224 g, 2.31 mol, 1.15 eq),DIPEA (519 g, 4.02 mol, 2.0 eq) in ethanol (2.60 L) was degassed andpurged with N₂ for 3 times, and then the mixture was stirred at 25° C.for 4 h under N₂ atmosphere. TLC (petroleum ether:ethyl acetate=10:1)indicated compound 2-3 was consumed completely. TLC (petroleumether:ethyl acetate=1:1, product R_(f)=0.40) indicated one new spotformed. The four reactions were combined. The reaction mixture wasfiltered and the filter cake was collected. The filtrate wasconcentrated under reduced pressure to give a residue. The residue wastriturated with water (38.0 L) and filtered. The filter cake (300 g) wastriturated with ethanol (600 mL) and filtered. The two filter cakes werecombined to give compound 2-5 (1.50 kg, 62.2% yield) as a yellow solid.¹H NMR: 400 MHz DMSO-d₆ δ 12.31 (s, 1H), 10.76 (s, 1H), 6.38 (s, 1H),4.35 (q, J=7.2 Hz, 2H), 2.27 (s, 3H), 1.30 (t, J=7.2 Hz, 3H).

Step 4:

Four reactions were carried out in parallel. A solution of compound 2-5(254 g, 848 mmol, 1.0 eq), compound 1-9 (300 g, 1.06 mol, HCl, 1.25 eq)and DIPEA (548 g, 4.24 mol, 5.0 eq) in DMSO (600 mL) was stirred at 130°C. for 16 h. TLC (ethyl acetate:petroleum ether=2:1, R_(f)=0.30) andLCMS showed ˜9% of the starting material remained. The mixture wascooled to 25° C. The four reactions were combined, poured into ice water(12.0 L). A yellow precipitate was formed. The solid was collected byfiltration to give compound 2-6 (1.50 kg, ˜76% purity) as a yellowsolid. (m/z): [M-41]⁺ calcd for C₂₂H₃₂FN₇O₄S, 510.22 found 510.2.

A suspension of compound 2-6 (440 g, 656 mmol, ˜76% purity) in ethanol(1.10 L) was heated to 95° C. until the solid was dissolved. Thesolution was cooled to 25° C. and stirred for 12 h. HPLC showed ˜96.9%purity. The three reactions were combined. The suspension was filteredto get the filter cake to give compound 2-6 (˜570 g, 96.9% purity) as alight yellow solid. The product was used for the next step directly. ¹HNMR: 400 MHz DMSO-d₆ δ 12.12 (s, 1H), 9.73 (s, 1H), 6.35 (s, 1H), 5.59(br s, 1H), 4.32 (m, 2H), 4.02 (s, 2H), 3.13 (q, J=7.2 Hz, 2H), 2.83 (s,3H), 2.20 (s, 3H), 1.94 (s, 3H), 1.64-1.73 (m, 5H), 1.76-1.87 (m, 5H),1.29 (t, J=7.2 Hz, 3H), 1.21 (t, J=7.2 Hz, 3H).

Step 5:

Five reactions were carried out in parallel. To a solution of compound2-6 (130 g, 255 mmol, 1.0 eq) in tetrohydrofuran (3.25 L) and ethanol(3.25 L) was added NaBH₄ (77.2 g, 2.04 mol, 8.0 eq) and CaCl₂) (113 g,1.02 mol, 4.0 eq) portion-wise at 0° C. The mixture was warmed to 10° C.and stirred for 2 h. TLC (ethyl acetate:petroleum ether=3:1, productR_(f)=0.20) showed the reaction was complete. The five reactions werecombined. The mixture was quenched by saturated sodium carbonatesolution (6.00 L), diluted with ethyl acetate (15.0 L) and stirred for0.5 h. The suspension was filtered to get filtrate. The organic layerwas separated, and aqueous layer was extracted with ethyl acetate (5.00L×2). The combined organic layer was washed with brine (5.00 L), driedover sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated to give (I) (500 g,crude) as a light yellow solid.

Purification:

Five reactions were carried out in parallel. A suspension of I (100 g,210 mmol) in ethanol (3.00 L) was heated to 95° C. until the solid wasdissolved. The solution was cooled to 25° C. and stirred for 12 h, a lotof precipitate formed. HPLC showed 100% purity. The five reactions werecombined. The solid was collected by filtration to give a total of 330 gof compound I (99.3% purity) as a light yellow solid (crystalline FormI). (m/z): [M+H]⁺ calcd for C₂₀H₃₀FN₇O₃S 468.21 found 468.3. ¹H NMR: 400MHz DMSO-d₆ δ 12.02 (s, 1H), 9.29 (s, 1H), 6.34 (s, 1H), 5.61 (br s,1H), 5.02 (t, J=6.8 Hz, 1H), 4.33 (d, J=4.0 Hz, 2H), 4.02 (s, 2H), 3.12(q, J=7.2 Hz, 2H), 2.84 (s, 3H), 2.19 (s, 3H), 1.82-2.01 (m, 3H),1.63-1.74 (m, 5H), 1.21 (t, J=7.2 Hz, 3H).

Preparation 3: ethyl 5-fluoro-2,6-dihydroxypyrimidine-4-carboxylate

A solution of 5-fluoro-2,6-dihydroxypyrimidine-4-carboxylic acid (20.4g, 120 mmol) in DMF (200 mL) was treated with DBU (18.7 g, 123 mmol) andwas stirred for 0.5 h at 25° C. Then EtI (19.2 g, 123 mmol) was addedand the resulting solution was heated to 60° C. for 3 hours. H₂O (1000mL) was added to the mixture, and the resulting precipitate wascollected by filtration, washed with H₂O (200 mL), and dried to giveethyl 5-fluoro-2,6-dihydroxypyrimidine-4-carboxylate (19 g, 80% yield).

Preparation 4: ethyl 2,6-dichloro-5-fluoropyrimidine-4-carboxylate

A mixture of ethyl 5-fluoro-2,6-dihydroxypyrimidine-4-carboxylate (5 g,24.8 mmol), PhNEt₂ (2.58 g, 17.3 mmol), POCl₃ (130 g, 855.9 mmol) washeated to 100° C. for 4 hours. Then the reaction mixture was cooled toroom temperature and poured into ice water (500 mL). The aqueous layerwas extracted with EtOAc (1000 mL) and the organic layer was washed withsat. NaHCO₃ (200 mL), brine (200 mL), dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered, andconcentrated under vacuum. The residue was purified by columnchromatography (80 g column; 0-50% EtOAc in hexanes) to give ethyl2,6-dichloro-5-fluoropyrimidine-4-carboxylate as yellow oil (3.8 g,65%).

Preparation 5: ethyl2-chloro-5-fluoro-6-((5-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)amino)pyrimidine-4-carboxylate

A mixture of ethyl 2,6-dichloro-5-fluoropyrimidine-4-carboxylate (3.8 g,16 mmol), 5-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-amine (1.86 g, 19 mmol), and DIPEA (4 g,32 mmol) in EtOH (100 mL) was stirred at r.t. for 2 h. The reactionmixture was concentrated under vacuum. Then water (500 mL) was added andthe reaction mixture was filtered and the filter cake was washed with100 mL of H₂O, and dried in vacuo to give ethyl2-chloro-5-fluoro-6-((5-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)amino)pyrimidine-4-carboxylate(3.8 g 80% yield).

Preparation 6: tert-butyl(1R,3s,5S)-3-((4-(ethoxycarbonyl)-5-fluoro-6-((5-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)amino)pyrimidin-2-yl)(methyl)amino)-9-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane-9-carboxylate

A mixture of ethyl2-chloro-5-fluoro-6-((5-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)amino)pyrimidine-4-carboxylate(1.7 g, 5.684 mmol), tert-butyl(1R,3s,5S)-3-(methylamino)-9-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane-9-carboxylate (2.17g, 8.527 mmol), and DIPEA (1.47 g, 11.368 mmol) in DMSO (50 mL) washeated to 110° C. for 18 h. The reaction mixture was poured into water(200 mL) and the reaction mixture was filtered and the filter cake waswashed with 200 mL of H₂O and dried in vacuum to give crudetert-butyl(1R,3s,5S)-3-((4-(ethoxycarbonyl)-5-fluoro-6-((5-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)amino)pyrimidin-2-yl)(methyl)amino)-9-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane-9-carboxylate(3.5 g, crude). (m/z): [M+H]⁺ calcd for C₂₅H₃₇FN₇O₄ 518.29 found 518.2.

Preparation 7: tert-butyl(1R,3s,5S)-3-((5-fluoro-4-(hydroxymethyl)-6-((5-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)amino)pyrimidin-2-yl)(methyl)amino)-9-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane-9-carboxylate

A mixture oftert-butyl(1R,3s,5S)-3-((4-(ethoxycarbonyl)-5-fluoro-6-((5-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)amino)pyrimidin-2-yl)(methyl)amino)-9-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane-9-carboxylate(3.5 g, 7 mmol), NaBH₄ (2.1 g, 56 mmol), and CaCl₂ (3.1 g, 28 mmol) in amixture of EtOH (50 mL) and THF (50 mL) was stirred overnight at 25° C.The reaction mixture was quench with Na₂CO₃ (aq) (80 mL) and H₂O (80mL), the aqueous layer was extracted with EtOAc (100 mL×3) and thecombined organic layers were washed with brine, dried over Na₂SO₄, andconcentrated under vacuum. The residue was purified by prep-HPLC to givetert-butyl(1R,3s,5S)-3-((5-fluoro-4-(hydroxymethyl)-6-((5-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)amino)pyrimidin-2-yl)(methyl)amino)-9-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane-9-carboxylate(1.4 g, 44%). (m/z): [M+H]⁺ calcd for C₂₃H₃₅FN₇O₃ 476.28 found 476.3.

Preparation 8:(2-(((1R,3s,5S)-9-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-3-yl)(methyl)amino)-5-fluoro-6-((5-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)amino)pyrimidin-4-yl)methanol

A solution oftert-butyl(1R,3s,5S)-3-((5-fluoro-4-(hydroxymethyl)-6-((5-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)amino)pyrimidin-2-yl)(methyl)amino)-9-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane-9-carboxylate(1.4 g, 2.95 mmol) in HCl/dioxane (50 mL) was stirred at 25° C. for 4 h.The reaction mixture was filtered and the filter cake was washed with100 mL of EtOAc and dried in vacuum to give(2-(((1R,3s,5S)-9-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-3-yl)(methyl)amino)-5-fluoro-6-((5-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)amino)pyrimidin-4-yl)methanol(1.4 g, 100%). (m/z): [M+H]⁺ calcd for C₁₈H₂₇FN₇O, 376.23 found 376.2.

Preparation 9:(2-(((1R,3s,5S)-9-(ethylsulfonyl)-9-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-3-yl)(methyl)amino)-5-fluoro-6-((5-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)amino)pyrimidin-4-yl)methanol

(2-((1R,3s,5S)-9-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-3-yl(methyl)amino)-5-fluoro-6-((5-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)amino)pyrimidin-4-yl)methanol(95 mg, 0.253 mmol) was dissolved in Pyridine (4.0 ml) and treated withethanesulfonyl chloride (0.024 ml, 0.253 mmol). The reaction mixture wasstirred for 2 hours and subsequently concentrated in vacuo. The cruderesidue was dissolved in 3 mL of a 1:1 mixture of acetic acid/water,filtered to remove particulate, and purified by preparative HPLC(Agilent Dynamax 250×21.4 mm 10 μm, 15 mL/min, 2-50% ACN+0.05% TFA/ACN)using a 2-50% gradient of ACN in water with 0.05% TFA). Pure fractionswere combined and lyophilized to provide the TFA salt of the titlecompound (12.92 mg, 8.8% yield, 99.9% purity). (m/z): [M+H]⁺ calcd forC₂₀H₃₁FN₇O₃S, 468.22 found 468.

Preparation 10: methyl2-chloro-6-((5-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)amino)pyrimidine-4-carboxylate

A mixture of 5-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-amine (5.6 g, 58 mmol), methyl2,6-dichloropyrimidine-4-carboxylate (12.0 g, 58 mmol), and DIPEA (15.0g, 116 mmol) in DMSO (120 ml) was stirred at 25° C. for 12 hours. H₂O(500 mL) was added and the precipitated solid was collected byfiltration to give the title intermediate (15 g, 97%) as a yellow solid.(m/z): [M+H]⁺ calcd for C₁₀H₁₁ClN₅O₂ 268.05 found 268.1.

Preparation 11: tert-butyl(1R,3s,5S)-3-((4-(methoxycarbonyl)-6-((5-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)amino)pyrimidin-2-yl)(methyl)amino)-9-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane-9-carboxylate

A mixture of methyl2-chloro-6-((5-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)amino)pyrimidine-4-carboxylate(12.0 g, 45 mmol), tert-butyl(1R,3s,5S)-3-(methylamino)-9-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane-9-carboxylate (13.7g, 54 mmol), and DIPEA (12.0 g, 90 mmol) in NMP (120 ml) was stirred at120° C. for 16 hours. The reaction was poured into H₂O (2000 mL), theprecipitated solid was collected by filtration to give the titleintermediate (15 g, 68%) as a white solid. (m/z): [M+H]⁺ calcd forC₂₄H₃₆N₇O₄ 486.28 found 486.3.

Preparation 12: tert-butyl(1R,3s,5S)-3-((4-carbamoyl-6-((5-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)amino)pyrimidin-2-yl)(methyl)amino)-9-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane-9-carboxylate

To tert-butyl(1R,3s,5S)-3-((4-(methoxycarbonyl)-6-((5-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)amino)pyrimidin-2-yl)(methyl)amino)-9-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane-9-carboxylate(3 batches of 2 g, 4.12 mmol) was added NH₃/MeOH (3 aliquots of 60 ml)in a 100 ml sealed tube, the reaction mixture was stirred at 25° C. for12 hours. The reaction mixture was concentrated in vacuum to afford thetitle intermediate (3.7 g, 64%). (m/z): [M+H]⁺ calcd for C₂₃H₃₅N₈O₃471.28 found 471.3.

Preparation 13:2-(((1R,3s,5S)-9-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-3-yl)(methyl)amino)-6-((5-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)amino)pyrimidine-4-carboxamide

To a mixture oftert-butyl(1R,3s,5S)-3-((4-carbamoyl-6-((5-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)amino)pyrimidin-2-yl)(methyl)amino)-9-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane-9-carboxylate(3.7 g, 7.9 mmol) in dioxane (185 mL) was added HCl/Dioxane (37 mL). Thereaction was stirred at 25° C. for 3 hours. TLC showed no startingmaterial remained. The solvent was removed, and the crude product waswashed with ethyl acetate/MeOH (100:1) to give the title intermediate asthe HCl salt (4.0 g, 95%). (m/z): [M+H]⁺ calcd for C₁₈H₂₇N₈O, 371.23found 371.1.

Preparation 14:2-(((1R,3s,5S)-9-(ethylsulfonyl)-9-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-3-yl)(methyl)amino)-6-((5-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)amino)pyrimidine-4-carboxamide(C-1)

2-((1R,3s,5S)-9-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-3-yl(methyl)amino)-6-((5-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)amino)pyrimidine-4-carboxamide(40 mg, 0.108 mmol) and DIPEA (0.057 ml, 0.324 mmol) were dissolved inDMF (1.50 ml) and cooled to 0° C. Ethane sulfonyl chloride was added andthe reaction mixture was allowed to warm to room temperature and stirredfor 72 hours. The reaction mixture was concentrated in vacuo and crudeproduct was purified by preparative reverse phase HPLC (Agilent Dynamax250×21.4 mm 10 μm, 15 mL/min, 2-70% ACN+0.1% TFA/ACN) to provide the TFAsalt of the title compound (4.5 mg, 9.01%). (m/z): [M+H]⁺ calcd forC₂₀H₃₁H₈O₃S, 463.22 found 463.2.

Preparation 15: methyl2-chloro-6-((5-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)amino)pyrimidine-4-carboxylate

A mixture of 5-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-amine (5.6 g, 58 mmol), methyl2,6-dichloropyrimidine-4-carboxylate (12.0 g, 58 mmol), and DIPEA (15.0g, 116 mmol) in DMSO (120 ml) was stirred at 25° C. for 12 hours. H₂O(500 mL) was added and the precipitated solid was collected byfiltration to give the title compound (15 g, 97%). (m/z): [M+H]⁺ calcdfor C₁₀H₁₁ClN₅O₂ 268.05 found 268.1.

Preparation 16: tert-butyl(1R,3s,5S)-3-((4-(methoxycarbonyl)-6-((5-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)amino)pyrimidin-2-yl)(methyl)amino)-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane-8-carboxylate

A mixture of methyl2-chloro-6-((5-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)amino)pyrimidine-4-carboxylate(8.3 g, 31.0 mmol), tert-butyl(1R,3s,5S)-3-(methylamino)-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane-8-carboxylate (8.2g, 34.1 mmol), and DIPEA (10.8 mL, 62.0 mmol) in DMSO (85 ml) wasstirred at 120° C. for 16 hours. The mixture was poured into 2 L ofwater, stirred vigorously, and then filtered to afford the titlecompound (11.1 g, 76%). (m/z): [M+H]⁺ calcd for C₂₃H₃₄N₇O₄ 472.27 found472.3.

Preparation 17: tert-butyl(1R,3s,5S)-3-((4-(hydroxymethyl)-6-((5-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)amino)pyrimidin-2-yl)(methyl)amino)-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane-8-carboxylate

To a mixture of NaBH₄ (8 g, 212 mmol) in MeOH (100 mL) was addedtert-butyl(1R,3s,5S)-3-((4-(methoxycarbonyl)-6-((5-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)amino)pyrimidin-2-yl)(methyl)amino)-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane-8-carboxylate(10 g, 21.2 mmol) in THF (100 mL) at 0° C. The reaction mixture was thenheated to reflux for 1 h. The reaction was quenched with water (500 mL),and the mixture extracted with ethyl acetate (3×200 mL). The combinedorganic layers were washed with brine (1×100 mL), dried over anhydrousNa₂SO₄, and concentrated in vacuo. The crude residue was purified byflash chromatography on silica gel (Petroleum ether:ethyl acetate=4:1)to afford the title compound (7 g, 68%). (m/z): [M+H]⁺ calcd forC₂₂H₃₄N₇O₃ 444.27 found 444.3.

Preparation 18:(2-(((1R,3s,5S)-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-3-yl)(methyl)amino)-6-((5-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)amino)pyrimidin-4-yl)methanol

A mixture oftert-butyl(1R,3s,5S)-3-((4-(hydroxymethyl)-6-((5-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)amino)pyrimidin-2-yl)(methyl)amino)-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane-8-carboxylate(6.5 g, 14.7 mmol) in HCl/dioxane (100 mL) was stirred at r.t. for 1 h.The mixture was concentrated in vacuum to afford the HCl salt of thetitle intermediate (4.8 g, 100%). (m/z): [M+H]⁺ calcd for C₁₇H₂₆N₇O,344.22 found 344.1.

Preparation 19:3-((1R,3s,5S)-3-((4-(hydroxymethyl)-6-((5-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)amino)pyrimidin-2-yl)(methyl)amino)-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-8-yl)propanenitrile(C-2)

(2-(((1R,3s,5S)-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-3-yl)(methyl)amino)-6-((5-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)amino)pyrimidin-4-yl)methanol(50 mg, 0.146 mmol) and DIPEA (0.076 ml, 0.437 mmol) were dissolved inMeOH (1.50 ml). Acrylonitrile (0.014 ml, 0.218 mmol) was added and thereaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 90 min. Thereaction mixture was then concentrated in vacuo and the crude residuewas purified by preparative reverse phase HPLC (Agilent Dynamax 250×21.4mm 10 μm, 15 mL/min, 2-60% ACN+0.1% TFA/ACN) to provide the TFA salt ofthe title compound (14 mg, 19%). (m/z): [M+H]⁺ calcd for C₂₀H₂₉N₈O,397.25 found 397.1.

Example 1: Crystalline Form I Powder X-Ray Diffraction

The powder X-ray diffraction patterns of FIG. 1 was obtained with aBruker D8-Advance X-ray diffractometer using Cu-Kα radiation (λ=1.54051Å) with output voltage of 45 kV and current of 40 mA. The instrument wasoperated in Bragg-Brentano geometry with incident, divergence, andscattering slits set to maximize the intensity at the sample. Formeasurement, a small amount of powder (5-25 mg) was gently pressed ontoa sample holder to form a smooth surface and subjected to X-rayexposure. The sample was scanned in 2θ-2θ mode from 2° to 35° in 20 witha step size of 0.02° and a scan speed of 0.30° seconds per step. Thedata acquisition was controlled by Bruker DiffracSuite measurementsoftware and analyzed by Jade software (version 7.5.1). The instrumentwas calibrated with a corundum standard, within ±0.02° two-theta angle.Observed PXRD 2θ peak positions and d-spacings are shown in Table 1 forcrystalline Form I.

TABLE 1 PXRD Data for Crystalline Form I 2-Theta d(Å) Area A % 5.9114.94 10324 6.1 6.28 14.06 25530 15 6.75 13.08 27629 16.2 8.08 10.943161 1.9 11.19 7.90 70185 41.3 11.73 7.54 170124 100 12.48 7.09 9018 5.313.52 6.55 12923 7.6 14.25 6.21 31558 18.5 14.64 6.05 30799 18.1 15.025.89 5121 3 15.68 5.65 4744 2.8 16.68 5.31 9857 5.8 17.62 5.03 3211218.9 18.10 4.90 15613 9.2 18.80 4.72 109849 64.6 19.29 4.60 135137 79.420.53 4.32 49854 29.3 21.53 4.12 2321 1.4 22.16 4.01 9590 5.6 24.24 3.671915 1.1 25.52 3.49 8578 5 28.93 3.08 3263 1.9 29.89 2.99 10836 6.430.44 2.93 3804 2.2

Example 2: Analysis of Form I

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was performed using a TAInstruments Model Q-100 module with a Thermal Analyst controller. Datawere collected and analyzed using TA Instruments Thermal Analysissoftware. A sample of the crystalline form was accurately weighed into acovered aluminum pan. After a 5 minute isothermal equilibration periodat 5° C., the sample was heated using a linear heating ramp of 10°C./min from 0° C. to 300° C. A representative DSC thermogram of thecrystalline Form I is shown in FIG. 2. The thermogram shows a meltingendotherm with an onset at about 248.5° C., and a peak at about 250.9°C. There were minor pre-melting endothermic thermal events observed at˜40° C. and ˜190° C.

Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) measurements were performed using a TAInstruments Model Q-50 module equipped with high resolution capability.Data were collected using TA Instruments Thermal Analyst controller andanalyzed using TA Instruments Universal Analysis software. A weighedsample was placed onto a platinum pan and scanned with a heating rate of10° C. from ambient temperature to 300° C. The balance and furnacechambers were purged with nitrogen flow during use. A representative TGAtrace of the crystalline Form I of the invention is shown in FIG. 3. TheTGA profile shows a weight loss of about 0.70% between 22° C.-125° C.,under N₂ purge, and decomposition at an onset temperature of about 250°C.

Dynamic moisture sorption (DMS) measurement was performed using a VTIatmospheric microbalance, SGA-100 system (VTI Corp., Hialeah, Fla.33016). A weighed sample was used and the humidity was lowest possiblevalue (close to 0% RH) at the start of the analysis. The DMS analysisconsisted of an initial drying step (0% RH) for 120 minutes, followed bytwo cycles of sorption and desorption with a scan rate of 5% RH/stepover the humidity range of 5% RH to 90% RH. The DMS run was performedisothermally at 25° C. A representative DMS trace for Form I is shown inFIG. 4. The total moisture uptake between 5 and 90% RH was 1.96%.

Karl Fisher analysis of Form I showed that it contains 1.6% w/w ofwater.

Preparation 20: Preparation of Form II

28 g of compound 2-6 was suspended in a mixture of 70 mL EtOH and 154 mLTHF, then cooled to 5° C. To this suspension was added 82 mL of LiBH₄(2.0M in THF) over 1 hour. After the addition, the temperature wasincreased to 10° C., and stirred for 2 hours, after which point thestarting material was not detected by HPLC analysis. The reaction wasthen quenched with a mixture of 16.8 g ammonium chloride dissolved in 77mL water. After heating to 45° C., 467 mL of water was charged over 3hours. Once 370 mL of this water charge had been added, crystalformation was observed. When the water charge was complete, the slurrywas held at 45° C. for 5 hours then ramped to 15° C. over 3 hours. Afterholding the slurry at 15° C. for 7.5 hours, the product was filtered andrinsed forward with 140 mL EtOH followed by two 140 mL forward rinsesusing water. The solid was dried under vacuum at 45° C. with a nitrogenbleed overnight to give 22.6 g of Form II (87% yield, 98.6% purity).

21 g of intermediate grade Form II of compound (I), obtained in theprevious step, in 63 mL of DMSO was heated to 90° C. 420 mL of n-PrOHwere added over 40 minutes while keeping the temperature of the mixtureover 86° C. Very fine refractive crystals were observed during the finalthird of the nPrOH addition. The mixture was stirred for 4 hours at 92°C. The mixture was cooled down to 20° C. over 8 hours and stirred at 20°C. overnight. The product was filtered and washed with 52.5 mL of nPrOH,followed by 52.5 mL of ethanol twice. The solid was dried under vacuumwith a nitrogen bleed at 55° C. to give 19.24 g of Form II (92% yield,99.6% purity).

Example 3: Crystalline Form II Powder X-Ray Diffraction

The powder X-ray diffraction patterns of FIG. 5 was obtained under thesame conditions as for Form I. Observed PXRD 20 peak positions andd-spacings are shown in the following Table.

TABLE PXRD Data for Crystalline Form II 2-Theta d(Å) Area A % 8.9 10.035511 9.8 9.5 9.3 63058 17.4 10.2 8.7 91113 25.2 11.4 7.7 361711 10014.4 6.1 29371 8.1 16.2 5.5 160020 44.2 16.6 5.3 173568 48 17.7 5.0153041 42.3 19.0 4.7 112788 31.2 19.2 4.6 93782 25.9 19.8 4.5 54560 15.120.1 4.4 93452 25.8 20.4 4.3 111287 30.8 20.6 4.3 49977 13.8 20.8 4.358656 16.2 21.3 4.2 27118 7.5 21.9 4.1 289766 80.1 25.9 3.4 35768 9.930.1 3.0 26278 7.3 30.5 2.9 23740 6.6 30.9 2.9 51901 14.3 32.6 2.7 224436.2 33.8 2.7 23525 6.5

Example 4: Analysis of Form II

Form II was tested under conditions similar to Form I.

A representative DSC thermogram of the crystalline Form II of theinvention is shown in FIG. 6. The thermogram shows a peak in endothermicheat flow, identified as a melt transition, which shows a maximum inendothermic heat flow at a temperature of 238.1° C.±2° C.

A representative TGA trace of the crystalline Form II of the inventionis shown in FIG. 7. The TGA profile shows a weight loss associated withdecomposition after 222° C.

The DMS analysis consisted of an initial drying step (0% RH) for 120minutes, followed by two cycles of sorption and desorption with a scanrate of 5% RH/step over the humidity range of 5% RH to 90% RH. The DMSrun was performed isothermally at 25° C. A representative DMS trace forForm II is shown in FIG. 8. The total moisture uptake between 5 and 90%RH was about 0.02%.

Example 5: Single Crystal X-Ray Diffraction of Form II

Data were collected on a Rigaku Oxford Diffraction Supernova DualSource, Cu at Zero, Atlas CCD diffractometer equipped with an OxfordCryosystems Cobra cooling device. The data were collected using Cu Kαradiation. The structure was solved and refined using the Bruker AXSSHELXTL suite crystallographic software. Full details can be found inthe CIF. Unless otherwise stated, hydrogen atoms attached to carbon wereplaced geometrically and allowed to refine with a riding isotropicdisplacement parameter. Hydrogen atoms attached to the heteroatoms werelocated in a difference Fourier map and were allowed to refine freelywith an isotropic displacement parameter.

TABLE Data from Single Crystal X-ray Diffraction Analysis for Form IIEmpirical formula C₂₀H₃₀FN₇O₃S Formula weight 467.57 Crystal size 0.10 ×0.10 × 0.02 mm³ Temperature of Data Collection 293(2) K Wavelength usedfor Data Collection 1.54178 Å Crystal system Monoclinic Space groupP2₁/n Unit cell dimensions a = 12.4330(8) Å b = 12.2675(9) Å c =14.5337(8) Å α = 90° β = 96.996(6)° γ = 90° Unit cell volume 2200.2(2)Å³ Z (Number of molecules in the unit 4 cell) Density (calculated) 1.412g/cm³ Theta range for data collection 4.422 to 75.445° Index ranges −15≤ h ≤ 15 −12 ≤ k ≤ 15 −18 ≤ l ≤ 15 Reflections collected 21349Independent reflections 4442 [R(int) = 0.07621 Final R indices [F2 >2sigma(F2)] R1 = 0.0568, wR2 = 0.1294 R indices (all data) R1 = 0.1028,wR2 = 0.1599

BIOLOGICAL ASSAYS

Assay 1: Biochemical JAK and Tyk2 Kinase Assays

A panel of four LanthaScreen JAK biochemical assays (JAK1, 2, 3 andTyk2) were carried in a common kinase reaction buffer (50 mM HEPES, pH7.5, 0.01% Brij-35, 10 mM MgCl₂, and 1 mM EGTA). Recombinant GST-taggedJAK enzymes and a GFP-tagged STAT1 peptide substrate were obtained fromLife Technologies.

Serially or discretely diluted compounds were pre-incubated with each ofthe four JAK enzymes and the substrate in white 384-well microplates(Corning) at ambient temperature for 1 h. ATP was subsequently added toinitiate the kinase reactions in 10 μL total volume, with 1% DMSO. Thefinal enzyme concentrations for JAK1, 2, 3 and Tyk2 are 4.2 nM, 0.1 nM,1 nM, and 0.25 nM respectively; the corresponding Km ATP concentrationsused are 25 μM, 3 μM, 1.6 μM, and 10 μM; while the substrateconcentration is 200 nM for all four assays. Kinase reactions wereallowed to proceed for 1 hour at ambient temperature before a 10 μLpreparation of EDTA (10 mM final concentration) and Tb-anti-pSTAT1(pTyr701) antibody (Life Technologies, 2 nM final concentration) inTR-FRET dilution buffer (Life Technologies) was added. The plates wereallowed to incubate at ambient temperature for 1 h before being read onthe EnVision reader (Perkin Elmer). Emission ratio signals (520 nm/495nm) were recorded and utilized to calculate the percent inhibitionvalues based on DMSO and background controls.

For dose-response analysis, percent inhibition data were plotted vs.compound concentrations, and IC₅₀ values were determined from a4-parameter robust fit model with the Prism software (GraphPadSoftware). Results were expressed as pIC₅₀ (negative logarithm of IC₅₀)and subsequently converted to pKi (negative logarithm of dissociationconstant, Ki) using the Cheng-Prusoff equation.

TABLE 2 pKi values of Compound (I) JAK 1 JAK 2 JAK 3 Tyk 2 (pKi) (pKi)(pKi) (pKi) Compound (I) 10.2 10.2 9.1 9.9

Assay 2: Cellular JAK Potency Assay: Inhibition of IL-13-Induced STAT6Phosphorylation in BEAS-2B Cells

The cellular potency assay for JAK inhibition was carried out bymeasuring interleukin-13 (IL-13, R&D Systems) induced STAT6phosphorylation in BEAS-2B human lung epithelial cells (ATCC). Theanti-STAT6 antibody (Cell Signaling Technologies) was conjugated toAlphaScreen acceptor beads (Perkin Elmer), while the anti-pSTAT6(pTyr641) antibody (Cell Signaling Technologies) was biotinylated usingEZ-Link Sulfo-NHS-Biotin (Thermo Scientific).

BEAS-2B cells were grown at 37° C. in a 5% CO₂ humidified incubator in50% DMEM/50% F-12 medium (Life Technologies) supplemented with 10% FBS(Hyclone), 100 U/mL penicillin, 100 μg/mL streptomycin (LifeTechnologies), and 2 mM GlutaMAX (Life Technologies). On day 1 of theassay, cells were seeded at a 7,500 cells/well density in whitepoly-D-lysine-coated 384-well plates (Corning) with 25 μL medium, andwere allowed to adhere overnight in the incubator. On day 2 of theassay, the medium was removed and replaced with 12 μL of assay buffer(Hank's Balanced Salt Solution/HBSS, 25 mM HEPES, and 1 mg/ml bovineserum albumin/BSA) containing dose-responses of test compounds. Thecompound was serially diluted in DMSO and then diluted another 1000-foldin media to bring the final DMSO concentration to 0.1%. Cells wereincubated with test compounds at 37° C. for 1 h, and followed by theaddition of 12 μl of pre-warmed IL-13 (80 ng/mL in assay buffer) forstimulation. After incubating at 37° C. for 30 min, the assay buffer(containing compound and IL-13) was removed, and 10 μL of cell lysisbuffer (25 mM HEPES, 0.1% SDS, 1% NP-40, 5 mM MgCl₂, 1.3 mM EDTA, 1 mMEGTA, and supplement with Complete Ultra mini protease inhibitors andPhosSTOP from Roche Diagnostics). The plates were shaken at ambienttemperature for 30 minutes before the addition of detection reagents. Amixture of biotin-anti-pSTAT6 and anti-STAT6 conjugated acceptor beadswas added first and incubated at ambient temperature for 2 h, followedby the addition of streptavidin conjugated donor beads (Perkin Elmer).After a minimum of 2 h incubation, the assay plates were read on theEnVision plate reader. AlphaScreen luminescence signals were recordedand utilized to calculate the percent inhibition values based on DMSOand background controls.

For dose-response analysis, percent inhibition data were plotted vs.compound concentrations, and IC₅₀ values were determined from a4-parameter robust fit model with the Prism software. Results may alsobe expressed as the negative logarithm of the IC₅₀ value, pIC₅₀.Compound (I) exhibited a pIC₅₀ value of 8.5 in this assay.

Assay 3: Cytotoxicity Assay

A CellTiter-Glo luminescent cell viability/cytotoxicity assay wascarried out in BEAS-2B human lung epithelial cells (ATCC) under thenormal growth condition.

Cells were grown at 37° C. in a 5% CO₂ humidified incubator in 50%DMEM/50% F-12 medium (Life Technologies) supplemented with 10% FBS(Hyclone), 100 U/mL penicillin, 100 μg/mL streptomycin (LifeTechnologies), and 2 mM GlutaMAX (Life Technologies). On day 1 of theassay, cells were seeded at a 500 cells/well density in white 384-welltissue culture plates (Corning) with 25 μL medium, and were allowed toadhere overnight in the incubator. On day 2 of the assay, 5 μL of mediumcontaining dose-responses of test compounds was added, and incubated at37° C. for 48 h. 30 μL of CellTiter-Glo detection solution (Promega) wassubsequently added, mixed on an orbital shaker for 5 min, and incubatedfor additional 10 min before being read on the EnVision reader.Luminescence signals were recorded and percent DMSO control values werecalculated.

For dose-response analysis, percent DMSO control data were plotted vs.compound concentrations to derive dose-response curves by lineconnecting each data point. The concentration at which each curvecrosses the 15% inhibition threshold is defined as CC₁₅. Results wereexpressed as the negative logarithm of the CC₁₅ value, pCC₁₅.

It is expected that test compounds exhibiting a lower pCC₁₅ value inthis assay have less likelihood to cause cytotoxicity. The pCC₁₅ forcompound (I) was 5.36.

Assay 4: In Vitro TSLP-Induced TARC Assay in Human PBMC

The binding of TSLP to its receptor induces a conformational change thatactivates JAK1 and JAK2 to phosphorylate various transcription factorsincluding STAT3 and STAT5. In skin-resident immune cells, this triggersa cascade of intracellular events that result in cell proliferation,anti-apoptosis, dendritic cell migration, and production of Th2cytokines and chemokines. During the acute phase of atopic dermatitis,the skin is invaded by Th2 lymphocytes. In primary peripheral bloodmononuclear cells (PBMCs), TSLP has a pro-inflammatory effect byactivating myeloid dendritic cells to attract and stimulate T cells.This process is mediated by thymus and activation-regulated chemokine(TARC/CCL17). TARC has proven to be a promising clinical biomarker foratopic dermatitis, with high serum levels indicating acceleratedpathogenesis of cutaneous inflammation.

In this assay, it was shown that TSLP stimulation induces TARC releasefrom PBMCs, and that this response is attenuated in a dose-dependentmanner upon treatment with compound (I). PBMCs (previously isolated fromwhole blood and frozen in aliquots at −80° C.) from 3 donors werethawed, plated, and allowed to rest at 37° C. for 1 hour. Cells werepre-treated for 1 hour with a 3.7× dilution series ranging from 33.3 μMto 0.95 nM of compound (I). Cells were then either stimulated with 10ng/mL TSLP or given an equivalent volume of plain media as a basalcontrol. After 48 hours, the cell supernatants were collected, and TARCwas measured using Human CCL17/TARC Quantikine ELISA Kit.

For dose-response analysis, percent inhibition data were plotted vs.compound concentrations, and IC₅₀ values were determined from a4-parameter robust fit model with the GraphPad Prism software. Resultsmay also be expressed as the negative logarithm of the IC₅₀ value,pIC₅₀. Compound (I) exhibited a pIC₅₀ value of 7.8 in this assay.

Assay 5: Rat Pharmacokinetics Assay

The objective of this study was to assess the pharmacokinetics ofcompound (I) in plasma following single oral (PO, n=3) or intravenous(IV, n=2) administration to male Sprague Dawley rats.

Three male Sprague Dawley rats were administered a single IV dose ofcompound (I) (1.0 mg/kg in 5% DMSO+20 mM Citrate buffer pH4) via ajugular vein catheter or a single PO dose of 5 mg/kg via oral gavage(5.0 mg/kg in 1% HPMC with 0.1% Tween80). At 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, and24 hours after dose administration blood samples were drawn via jugularvein catheter into EDTA tubes and maintained chilled on ice prior tocentrifugation (12,000 rpm, 4 min, 4° C.). Aliquots of plasma weretransferred to cluster tubes and stored frozen (−80° C.) prior tobioanalysis.

Plasma samples were vortexed prior to transferring a 50 μL aliquot ofsample to a 96-well plate and extracted with 200 μL acetonitrilecontaining an internal standard. Following extraction, samples werecentrifuged for 10 min at 3700 RPM (2809×g). The supernatant wastransferred to a new 96-well plate and then diluted in 0.2% formic acidin water (3-fold dilution). For all samples, 10 μL was injected onto aWaters Xbridge (C18 30×2.1 mm) column with a flow rate of 0.80 mL/min.Mobile phase A consisted of 0.2% formic acid in water and mobile phase B0.2% formic acid in acetonitrile. Plasma levels of compound (I) weredetermined by LC-MS-MS analysis. Standard PK parameters were determinedusing Phoenix WinNonlin, (Certara Inc.).

TABLE 3 Pharmacokinetic Parameters IV (1 mg/kg) PO (5 mg/kg) T1/2 (hr)1.34 ND Cmax (μg/ml) 0.907 0.077 AUC (0-t) (μg•hr/ml) 0.291 0.112 CL(L/hr/kg) 3.54 ND Vdss (L/Kg) 1.1 ND F % ND 7.7 ND, not determined.

Assay 6: Dermal Pharmacokinetics in Hanford Mini-Pig Skin

The objective of this Study was to determine the epidermal, dermal andplasma pharmacokinetics of compound (I) following a 24 hour exposure tointact Hanford mini-pig skin. Compound (I) was formulated to 0.5 (w/w)in cream or ointment as described, as Formulation A and Formulation B,respectively in Table 4.

TABLE 4 Formulations of Compound (I) Formulation A Formulation B (cream)(ointment) Compound (I)  0.5% Compound (I)  0.5% Stearic Acid   5%Octylhydroxystearate   5% Cetostearyl Alcohol   5% C8-C10 Triglyceride  5% Isopropyl Palmitate   4% Vaseline (Petrolatum) 79.5%Octylhydroxystearate   2% N-Methylpyrrolidone   10% BRIJ S2 1.08% (PEG 2Stearyl Ether) BRIJ S20 6.92% (PEG 20 Stearyl Ether) N-Methylpyrrolidine  10% PEG400   10% RO Water 55.5%

Twenty-four hours prior to dosing, the hair was shaved from the back of10-15 kg Hanford mini-pigs exposing an area of at least 700 cm² (about10% of body surface). At time zero, compound (I) was applied to the backof the mini-pigs at a dose of 25 μL/cm². The skin was covered with anadhesive cover to prevent loss of compound to the cage or bedding.Following 24 h exposure, the backs were gently washed with soap andwater to remove non-absorbed drug and patted dry. Immediately followingthis washing, blood was drawn by venipuncture from the mini-pigs. Theouter skin (stratum corneum) was then removed by adhesive tapestripping. Upon exposure of the epidermis a 0.5 cm punch biopsy wastaken. The epidermis and dermis were quickly separated, weighed and snapfrozen. Similar samples were taken at 94 h, and 168 h (7 days)post-dosing in mini-pigs. Epidermis and dermis samples were homogenizedin 1:10 (w/v) water using a Covaris ultrasonic homogenizer. Samples wereextracted in 3 volumes of acetonitrile and quantified against a standardcurve via LC-MS analysis. As evidenced by the pharmacokinetic parameters(Table 5), significant compound exposure was exhibited in epidermis anddermis layers while the plasma exposure was below the limit ofquantitation (0.001 μg/ml) indicating very limited absorption ofcompound into the systemic circulation.

TABLE 5 Pharmacokinetic Parameters Obtained for Both Formulations ofCompound (I) Formulation A Formulation B Plasma Cmax <0.001 <0.001(μg/ml) Plasma AUC_(0-t) <0.001 <0.001 (μg*hr/ml) Epidermis Cmax 10.935.8 (μg/g) Epidermis AUC_(0-t) 395 1320 (μg*hr/g) Dermis Cmax 0.47 1.52(μg/g) Dermis AUC_(0-t) 17.8 64.8 (μg*hr/g)

Assay 7: Ex Vivo JAK Pharmacodynamic (PD) Assay Using Human FreshlyExcised Skin

An ex vivo JAK pharmacodynamics (PD) assay was conducted using humanisolated skin tissue. The PD assay used fresh human skin (dermatome of750 μm thickness) that was mounted in static Franz cells with a surfacearea of ˜0.5 cm². The receiver chambers of the Franz cells were filledwith warm (37° C.) cornification media and placed in an incubator at 37°C. The skin was topically dosed with 10 μL (˜18 μL/cm²) of compound (I)or vehicle and was left undisturbed overnight (˜24 hours). The next day,with no re-application of the test compound or vehicle, the media wasreplaced with a Th1-skewed stimulation cocktail consisting of TNFα, IFNγand IL-12. The skin was left undisturbed for an additional 16 hours, andthen harvested and processed for RNA extraction and qPCR of biomarkers:CXCL10, CCL2. GAPDH was used as an internal standard. The compound (I)was formulated in an ointment formulation at 0.5% strength. Thecomposition of the ointment vehicle is listed in Table 6. A total ofthree skin donors (tested in quadruplicates/sample/treatment) were used.Treatment effect was calculated as the percent increase or decrease instimulation compared to the vehicle group.

TABLE 6 Composition of Ointment Vehicle Octylhydroxystearate   5% C8-C10Triglyceride   5% Vaseline (Petrolatum) 79.5% N-Methylpyrrolidone   5%Benzyl Alcohol   5%Ex Vivo Human Skin PD Assay Results

The data are summarized in Table 7. CXCL10 gene expression, whichencodes interferon-γ-induced protein 10 (IP-10), was inhibited bycompound (I) by 90.1% compared to the TH1/vehicle control group. Withrespect to the CCL2 gene, which encodes monocyte chemoattractant protein1 (MCP-1), compound (I) inhibited the response by 61.3%. In addition,with both formulations, high concentrations of compound were detected inboth the epidermal and dermal layers of the skin.

TABLE 7 Pharmacodynamic effect and epidermal and dermal deposition of0.5% ointment formulation of compound (I) after about 40 hours ofcontinuous exposure on freshly excised human skin PD- % Inhibition PK-Tissue concentration (mean ± SD) (μM, mean ± SD) Compound (I) CXCL10CCL2 Epidermis Dermis 0.5% Ointment 90.1 ± 15.1 61.3 ± 39.6 116.5 ± 91.96.1 ± 5.3 Data are presented as mean ± Std dev, n = 12 (3 donors, 4samples/donor).

Assay 8: Human Skin Permeability Assay

The objective of this experiment was to assess the percutaneousabsorption of test compounds through human skin following topicalapplication. The model uses excised human skin mounted in speciallydesigned diffusion chambers (static or flow-through) that allow the skinto be maintained at a temperature and humidity that match real useconditions. The formulation was applied to the surface of the skin andthe penetration of the drug is measured by monitoring its rate ofappearance in the receptor solution flowing underneath the skin samples.This in vitro system allows carefully control of many of the potentialvariables involved in topical application, such as dosing volumes,humidity, temperature, drug stability, and skin thickness.

This experiment used a flow-through diffusion cell system (MedFlux-HTTM)utilizing a carefully designed flow-path with small void volumes foroptimal sink conditions and has been shown to provide local clearancebeneath dermatomed skin to generate more accurate and detailed fluxprofiles through automated collection and optimized fluidics. Thissystem was developed to specifically minimize the dosing area during invitro experiments, thus allowing more dosing replications within thelimited surface area of ex vivo human skin.

The diffusion cells were placed in cell warming supports and heatedusing a circulating water bath in order to maintain the skin surfacetemperature at approx. 32° C. The cells were connected to multi-channelperistaltic pumps and maintained at a flow-rate of approximately 10μL/min (600 μL/hr) for a continuous flow of receiver fluid directlyunder the skin. Following continuous sampling over 24 h, samples wereassayed for test compound levels by LC-MS/MS. The test compound wasdetected in receiver fluid from 20-28 hours following application oftest ointment formulation (n=5). The ointment used is disclosed in Assay7. The receiver fluid was PBS with 0.1% Brij.

TABLE 8 Flux of compound (I) permeating through 1 cm2 of human skinMedFlux Permeability (ng/cm2/sec) N Mean Std Dev Compound (I) (0.5% 539.1 10.9 Ointment)

As shown in Table 8, compound (I) showed adequate permeability.

Assay 9: In Vivo IL-31-pSTAT3 JAK Target Engagement Assay in Mice

An in vivo model of IL-31-induced production of phosphorylated signaltransducer and activator of transcription 3 (pSTAT3) in mice was used toassess local target engagement on mouse skin.

The JAK/STAT (janus kinase/signal transducer and activator oftranscription) signaling pathway is a key element in the communicationbetween immune cells and is mainly activated through cytokine receptors.Binding of cytokine IL-31 leads to the activation and phosphorylation ofJAK1/JAK2 tyrosine kinases which in turn leads to the phosphorylation ofSTAT3 (pSTAT3). The activated STAT then translocates into the nucleusand directly regulates the transcription of cytokine-sensitive genes. Inthese studies, Balb/c mice were dosed with an ointment formulation ofcompound (I). Ointment vehicle (Table 9) or compound (I) formulated inthe ointment vehicle was applied topically to shaved skin (25 μl/cm²) 30minutes before the intradermal injection (50 μl/1×1 cm2 site) of IL-31(1 μg/ml) at a 1×1 cm² shaved area of skin on the back between the ears.One hour after IL-31, skin biopsies were collected. The tissue sampleswere flash frozen and analyzed for pSTAT3 by ELISA and compoundconcentration. Compound (I) inhibited pSTAT3 production by 80% and theskin tissue concentration of compound (I) was 62 μM.

TABLE 9 Composition of Ointment Vehicle Octylhydroxystearate   5% C8-C10Triglyceride   5% Vaseline (Petrolatum) 79.5% N-Methylpyrrolidone   5%Benzyl Alcohol   5%

Assay 10: In Vivo TPA-Induced Acute Dermatitis Model in Mice

The objective of this assay is to assess the anti-inflammatory effect ofcompound (I), in a model of acute dermatitis being studied for cutaneousinflammatory conditions such as atopic dermatitis (Dong et al., JPharmacol Exp Ther, 2013, 344, 436-446).

Topical dermal application of phorbol ester TPA in mice causes aninflammatory response that is characterized by edema and neutrophilinflux at the early phase (2-24 h) and by epidermal cell proliferationat the later phase (24-48 h) (Griffiths et al., Agents and Actions,1988, 25, 344-351). In this model, female Balb/c mice were topicallyadministered with 20 μl/ear of either vehicle or TPA (2.5 μg). For thesolution formulation, vehicle (1:7 DMSO:Acetone) or test compound wastopically applied 30 min before and 15 min after TPA administration. Forthe ointment formulation, vehicle or compound (I) (0.5% strength) wasapplied 30 min before TPA. The composition of the ointment vehicle islisted in Table 10. The degree of inflammation was assessed as thechange in ear thickness at 6 hours after TPA application.

The results are summarized in Tables 11 and 12. When dosed as asolution, compound (I) (3-1000 μg/ear) inhibited the TPA-inducedincrease in ear thickness in a dose dependent manner. The highest dosetested inhibited the TPA response by 54.8%. When formulated as anointment at 0.5% strength, compound (I) inhibited the TPA response by34.9%.

TABLE 10 Composition of Ointment Vehicle Octylhydroxystearate   5%C8-C10 Triglyceride   5% Vaseline (Petrolatum) 79.5% N-Methylpyrrolidone  5% Benzyl Alcohol   5%

TABLE 11 Effect of topical compound (I) solution formulation onTPA-induced increase in ear thickness in mice Compound (I) doseInhibition of TPA-induced increase in ear (μg/ear dosed as solution)thickness (mean % inh ± SEM (n))  30 6.6% ± 1.1% (12)  100 2.4% ± 0.7%(12)  300 355% ± 3.1% (12) 1000 54.8 ± 2.6% (12)

TABLE 12 Effect of topical compound (I) ointment formulation on TPA-induced increase in ear thickness in mice Compound (I) dose Inhibitionof TPA-induced increase in ear (20 μl/ear) thickness (mean % inh ± SEM(n)) 0.5% Ointment 34.9% ± 3.3% (12)

Assay 11: Inhibition of IL-2 Stimulated pSTAT5 in Tall-1 T Cells

The potency of test compounds for inhibition of interleukin-2 (IL-2)stimulated STAT5 phosphorylation was measured in the Tall-1 human T cellline (DSMZ) using AlphaLisa. Because IL-2 signals through JAK1/3, thisassay provides a measure of JAK1/3 cellular potency.

Phosphorylated STAT5 was measured via the AlphaLISA SureFire UltrapSTAT5 (Tyr694/699) kit (PerkinElmer).

Human T cells from the Tall-1 cell line were cultured in a 37° C., 5%CO₂ humidified incubator in RPMI (Life Technologies) supplemented with15% Heat Inactivated Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS, Life Technologies), 2 mMGlutamax (Life Technologies), 25 mM HEPES (Life Technologies) and 1×Pen/Strep (Life Technologies). Compounds were serially diluted in DMSOand dispensed acoustically to empty wells. Assay media (phenol red-freeDMEM (Life Technologies) supplemented with 10% FBS (ATCC)) was dispensed(4 μL/well) and plates shaken at 900 rpm for 10 mins. Cells were seededat 45,000 cells/well in assay media (4 μL/well), and incubated at 37°C., 5% CO₂ for 1 hour, followed by the addition of IL-2 (R&D Systems;final concentration 300 ng/mL) in pre-warmed assay media (4 μL) for 30minutes. After cytokine stimulation, cells were lysed with 6 ul of 3×AlphaLisa Lysis Buffer (PerkinElmer) containing 1× PhosStop and Completetablets (Roche). The lysate was shaken at 900 rpm for 10 minutes at roomtemperature (RT). Phosphorylated STAT5 was measured via the pSTAT5AlphaLisa kit (PerkinElmer). Freshly prepared acceptor bead mixture wasdispensed onto lysate (5 μL) under green filtered<100 lux light. Plateswere shaken at 900 rpm for 2 mins, briefly spun down, and incubated for2 hrs at RT in the dark. Donor beads were dispensed (5 μL) under greenfiltered<100 lux light. Plates were shaken at 900 rpm for 2 minutes,briefly spun down, and incubated overnight at RT in the dark.Luminescence was measured with excitation at 689 nm and emission at 570nm using an EnVision plate reader (PerkinElmer) under green filtered<100lux light.

To determine the inhibitory potency of test compounds in response toIL-2, the average emission intensity of beads bound to pSTAT5 wasmeasured in a human T cell line. IC₅₀ values were determined fromanalysis of the inhibition curves of signal intensity versus compoundconcentration. Data are expressed as pIC₅₀ (negative decadic logarithmIC₅₀) values (mean±standard deviation). Compound (I) exhibited a pIC₅₀value of 8.4 in this assay.

Assay 12: Inhibition of IL-12-Induced STAT4 Phosphorylation in HumanCD3+ T Cells

This cellular potency assay for JAK inhibition was carried out bymeasuring interleukin-12 (IL-12, R&D Systems) induced STAT4phosphorylation in human CD3⁺ T cells. The CD3 antibody (BectonDickinson (BD) Biosciences) was conjugated to R-Phycoerythrin (R-PE).The pSTAT4 antibody (pTyr641, BD Biosciences) was conjugated with AlexaFluor 647.

Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells were cultured at 37° C. in a 5%CO2 humidified incubator in RPMI medium (Life Technologies) supplementedwith 10% FBS (Life Technologies), 100 U/mL penicillin, 100 μg/mLstreptomycin (Life Technologies), 2 mM GlutaMAX (Life Technologies),plate bound anti CD3 (5 μg/mL, UCHT1, BD Biosciences) and solubleanti-CD28 (1 μg/mL, CD28.2, BD Biosciences) for 3 days. Cells were thenresuspended in RPMI medium (Life Technologies) supplemented with 10% FBS(Life Technologies), 100 U/mL penicillin, 100 μg/mL streptomycin (LifeTechnologies), 2 mM GlutaMAX (Life Technologies) and 10 ng/mLinterleukin-2 (IL-2, R&D Systems) for an additional 3 days. On the dayof the assay, cells were washed in assay buffer (RPMI supplemented with0.1% Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA, Sigma), 100 U/mL penicillin, 100 μg/mLstreptomycin (Life Technologies) and 2 mM GlutaMAX (Life Technologies)),and resuspended to 1.25×10⁶ cells per mL in assay buffer. Cells wereseeded at 250,000 cells per 100 μL, per well in a polypropelene, 96 deepwell round bottom plate (Corning) and were allowed to culture for 1hour. The medium was removed and replaced with 50 μL, of assay buffercontaining dose-responses of test compounds. Compounds were prepared as10 mM stock solutions in DMSO. Serial dilutions were performed togenerate 11 concentrations of test compound at 1000-fold the final assaytest concentration in 100% DMSO. These were diluted by 25-fold and then20-fold into assay media to generate stocks at 2× over the final assaytest concentration in 0.2% DMSO. Cells were incubated with testcompounds at 37° C. for 1 hour, followed by the addition of 50 μL ofpre-warmed assay buffer containing IL-12 (20 ng/mL, R&D Systems) Thefinal concentration of IL-12 is 10 ng/mL. After incubating at 37° C. for30 minutes, cells were fixed with 100 μL of pre-warmed cytofix buffer(BD Biosciences) and incubated for 10 minutes at 37° C. Cells were thencentrifuged for 5 minutes at 322×g, the supernatant discarded and thecells washed with 500 μL of staining buffer (1% BSA in phosphatebuffered saline (PBS)). Cells were then centrifuged for 5 minutes at322×g, the supernatant discarded and the cells were incubated for 30minutes on ice with 500 μL of pre-chilled Perm III buffer (BDBiosciences) to permeabilize cells. Next, cells were centrifuged for 5minutes at 322×g, the supernatant discarded, washed with 1 mL ofstaining buffer, centrifuged once more and the final cell pelletresuspended in 100 μL of staining buffer containing the anti-CD3 R-PE(1:10 dilution) and anti-STAT4 AlexaFluor 647 (1:50 dilution) to staincell surface and intracellular markers. Cells were incubated for 45minutes at room temperature in the dark. After antibody staining, cellswere centrifuged for 5 minutes at 322×g, the supernatant discarded andthe cells were washed with 500 μL of staining buffer. Cells were washedone more time before the well contents were transferred from the deepwell assay plate to a polypropylene U-bottomed 96-well plate in 200 μLstaining buffer for flow cytometry analysis. For dose-response analysis,mean fluorescence intensity values were plotted vs. compoundconcentrations, and IC₅₀ values were determined from a 4-parameterrobust fit model with the Prism software. Compound (I) exhibited a pIC₅₀value of 7.2 in this assay.

Assay 13: Inhibition of IL-13 Stimulated pSTAT6 in Normal HumanEpidermal Keratinocytes

The potency of test compounds for inhibition of interleukin-13 (IL-13)stimulated STAT6 phosphorylation was measured in the normal humanepidermal keratinocytes (ATCC) using AlphaLisa. Phosphorylated STAT6 wasmeasured via the AlphaLISA SureFire Ultra pSTAT6 (Tyr641) kit(PerkinElmer).

Primary epidermal keratinocytes were cultured in a 37° C., 5% CO₂humidified incubator in dermal cell basal medium (ATCC) supplementedwith keratinocyte growth kit (ATCC) and 1× Pen/Strep (LifeTechnologies). Cells were seeded at 20,000 cells/well in whitepoly-D-lysine-coated 384-well plates (Corning) with 50 μl and incubatedat 37° C., 5% CO₂ for overnight. On day 2 of the assay, the medium wasremoved and replaced with 15 μL of medium containing does-response oftest compounds. Compounds were serially diluted in DMSO and then dilutedanother 1000-fold in media to bring the final DMSO concentration to0.1%. Cells were incubated with test compounds at 37° C. for 1 h, andfollowed by the addition of followed by the addition of IL-13 (R&DSystems; final concentration 50 ng/mL) in pre-warmed assay media (5 μL)for 30 minutes.

After cytokine stimulation, cells were lysed with 5 ul of 5× AlphaLisaLysis Buffer (PerkinElmer) containing 1× PhosStop and Complete tablets(Roche). The lysate was shaken at 900 rpm for 10 minutes at roomtemperature (RT). Phosphorylated STAT6 was measured via the pSTAT6AlphaLisa kit (PerkinElmer). Freshly prepared acceptor bead mixture wasdispensed onto lysate (10 μL) under green filtered<100 lux light. Plateswere shaken at 900 rpm for 2 mins, briefly spun down, and incubated for2 hrs at RT in the dark. Donor beads were dispensed (10 μL) under greenfiltered<100 lux light. Plates were shaken at 900 rpm for 2 minutes,briefly spun down, and incubated overnight at RT in the dark.Luminescence was measured with excitation at 689 nm and emission at 570nm using an EnVision plate reader (PerkinElmer) under green filtered<100lux light.

Luminescence signals were recorded and utilized to calculate the percentinhibition values based on DMSO and controls. For dose-responseanalysis, percent inhibition data were plotted vs. compoundconcentrations, and IC₅₀ values were determined from a 4-parameterrobust fit model with the Prism software. The pIC₅₀ of compound (I) was8.3 in this assay.

Assay 14: Inhibition of IL-22 Stimulated pSTAT3 in Normal HumanEpidermal Keratinocytes

The potency of test compounds for inhibition of interleukin-22 (IL-22)stimulated STAT3 phosphorylation was measured in the normal humanepidermal keratinocytes (ATCC) using AlphaLisa. Phosphorylated STAT3 wasmeasured via the AlphaLISA SureFire Ultra pSTAT3 (Tyr705) kit(PerkinElmer).

Primary epidermal keratinocytes were cultured in a 37° C., 5% CO₂humidified incubator in dermal cell basal medium (ATCC) supplementedwith keratinocyte growth kit (ATCC) and 1× Pen/Strep (LifeTechnologies). Cells were seeded at 20,000 cells/well in whitepoly-D-lysine-coated 384-well plates (Corning) with 50 μl and incubatedat 37° C., 5% CO₂ for overnight. On day2 of the assay, the medium wasremoved and replaced with 15 μL of medium containing dose-response oftest compounds. Compounds were serially diluted in DMSO and then dilutedanother 1000-fold in media to bring the final DMSO concentration to0.1%. Cells were incubated with test compounds at 37° C. for 1 h, andfollowed by the addition of followed by the addition of IL-22 (R&DSystems; final concentration 50 ng/mL) in pre-warmed assay media (5 μL)for 30 minutes.

After cytokine stimulation, cells were lysed with 5 ul of 5× AlphaLisaLysis Buffer (PerkinElmer) containing 1× PhosStop and Complete tablets(Roche). The lysate was shaken at 900 rpm for 10 minutes at roomtemperature (RT). Phosphorylated STAT3 was measured via the pSTAT3AlphaLisa kit (PerkinElmer). Freshly prepared acceptor bead mixture wasdispensed onto lysate (10 μL) under green filtered<100 lux light. Plateswere shaken at 900 rpm for 2 mins, briefly spun down, and incubated for2 hrs at RT in the dark. Donor beads were dispensed (10 μL) under greenfiltered<100 lux light. Plates were shaken at 900 rpm for 2 minutes,briefly spun down, and incubated overnight at RT in the dark.Luminescence was measured with excitation at 689 nm and emission at 570nm using an EnVision plate reader (PerkinElmer) under green filtered<100lux light.

Luminescence signals were recorded and utilized to calculate the percentinhibition values based on DMSO and controls. For dose-responseanalysis, percent inhibition data were plotted vs. compoundconcentrations, and IC₅₀ values were determined from a 4-parameterrobust fit model with the Prism software. The pIC₅₀ of compound (I) was8.4 in this assay.

Assay 15: Recovery of IL-22 Suppressed Filaggrin in Normal HumanEpidermal Keratinocytes

IL-22 is known to inhibit the expression of terminal differentiationgenes, such as Filaggrin. The recovery level of test compound forinterleukin-22 (IL-22) suppressed Filaggrin expression was measured inthe normal human epidermal keratinocytes (ATCC) using real-time PCR.

Primary epidermal keratinocytes were cultured in a 37° C., 5% CO₂humidified incubator in dermal cell basal medium (ATCC) supplementedwith keratinocyte growth kit (ATCC) and 1× Pen/Strep (LifeTechnologies). Cells were seeded at 5,000 cells/well in BioCoat 96-wellplates (Corning) with 100 μl and incubated at 37° C., 5% CO₂ for 3 to 4days till 100% confluency. Then, the medium was removed and replacedwith 150 μL of medium containing does-response of test compounds.Compounds were serially diluted in DMSO and then diluted another1000-fold in media to bring the final DMSO concentration to 0.1%. On day1 of the assay, cells were incubated with test compounds at 37° C. for 1h, and followed by the addition of followed by the addition of IL-22(R&D Systems; final concentration 50 ng/mL) in pre-warmed media (50 μL)for 4 days. The medium with test compounds and IL-22 was changed once onday3. On day 5, cells were washed with 1×PBS (Gibco) and lysed with 50μl of Lysis Buffer containing 0.5 μl DnaseI from TaqMan® Gene ExpressionCells-to-Ct™ Kit (Life Technologies). After incubation at roomtemperature (RT) for 5 minutes, 5 μl of Stop solution from the kit wasadded and then incubated at RT for 2 minutes. 11.25 μl of lysate, 12.5μl of 2× RT buffer and 1.25 μl 20× RT enzyme mix from the kit weremixed. The reverse transcription reaction was carried out by incubatingthe mixture at 37° C. for 60 minutes and then 95° C. for 5 minutes togenerate cDNA. To assemble the PCR cocktail, each reaction contained 10μl of 2× TaqMan® Gene Expression Mater Mix, 1 μl of 2× TaqMan® FilaggrinGene Expression Assay (Life Technologies), 1 μl of 2× TaqMan® UBC GeneExpression Assay (Life Technologies), 4 μl of nuclease-free water and 4μl of cDNA. PCR reactions were done on StepOnePlus™ (Life Technologies)with cycling conditions of 50° C. for 2 minutes, 95° C. for 10 minutesfollowed by 40 cycles of 95° C. for 15 seconds and 60° C. for 1 minute.Fluorescence signals were captured after each cycle. Comparative CTmethod was used to quantify gene expression with cells without IL-22 andtest compounds as baseline control.

The recovery of compound (I) for interleukin-22 (IL-22) suppressedFilaggrin expression was observed at a concentration<1 μM.

Assay 16: Caco-2 Permeation Assay

The Caco-2 permeation assay was used as an indication of skinpermeability. The assay measures the rate at which test compounds insolution permeate a cell monolayer (designed to mimic the tight junctionof human small intestinal monolayers).

CacoReady 24-well transwell plates were obtained from ADMEcell (Alameda,Calif.). The compounds were evaluated at a concentration of 5 μM from 10mM DMSO stock solutions in duplicate (n=2). The passive permeability ofthe compounds tested was evaluated using Caco-2 cell monolayers alongwith Verapamil (25 μM) to inhibit P-gp transport proteins in the apicalto basolateral (A-B) direction. The experiment was conducted in a 37°C., 5% CO₂ incubator. Caco-2 culture media consisted of standardfiltered DMEM, FCS 10%, L-Glutamine 1% and PenStrep 1%. Basal assayplate was prepared by adding 750 μL of transport buffer to A-B wells. ACacoReady™ plate was prepared by removing the Caco-2 media from theapical wells and replacing with fresh transport media (200 μL repeatedfor a total of 3 washes). Blank media (200 μL) was then replaced withdiluted compound for A-B wells. To begin the incubation, the basal platewas removed from the incubator and the apical section was added on topof it. Samples (40 μL) were collected from the apical and basalcompartments for time zero (t0). Samples were collected again after 120minutes (t120) from the apical and basal compartments. All samples werediluted and prepared for bioanalysis by LC-MS/MS. The permeationcoefficient (K_(p), mean A to B+Verapamil Papparent) in cm/sec wascalculated as dQ (flux)/(dt×Area×concentration).

In this assay, a compound with a K_(p) value of less than about 5×10⁻⁶cm/sec is considered to have low permeability. A compound having a K_(p)value of more than about 20×10⁻⁶ cm/sec is considered to have highpermeability.

Assay 17: Human Liver Microsome Assay

The objective of this assay was to assess the metabolic stability oftest compounds in an in vitro human liver sub-fraction. Human livermicrosomes obtained from Bioreclamation-IVT (Baltimore, Md.) were thawedon ice and diluted into 0.1M potassium phosphate buffer pH 7.4 to yieldfinal incubation protein concentrations of 0.1 mg/mL. Test compounds (10mM) were diluted into NADPH cofactor to yield final incubationconcentrations of 0.1 μM test compound and 1 mM NADPH. Incubations wereconducted at 37° C. temperature and test aliquots were taken at timepoints 0, 5, 8, 15, 30 and 45 minutes. Each aliquot was crashed intowater with 3% formic acid and 1 μM internal standard. The resultingsamples were injected onto an LC-MS/MS system for analysis.

For each incubation, the peak area of the analytes in each t0 aliquotwas set to 100% and the peak areas from subsequent time point aliquotswere converted to percentage of parent compound remaining relative tot0. The percentage of parent compound remaining was converted to naturallog scale and plotted versus time in minutes. A linear regressionanalysis was performed for the initial decline of the parentdisappearance profile and a formula for the best-fit line determined.The slope of the resultant line was normalized to protein concentrationin mg/mL protein or number of cells/mL and CL_(int) was calculated asfollows for liver microsomes:CL _(int)(μL·min⁻¹·mg⁻¹)=(Slope×1000)/[protein,mg/mL]

CL_(int) values from 0-8 μl/min/mg represent low clearance (i.e<30% ofhepatic blood flow in human). CL_(int) values from 9-49 μl/min/mgrepresent moderate clearance (i.e. 30-70% of hepatic blood flow inhuman) and values>50 μl/min/mg represent high hepatic clearance(i.e. >70% of hepatic blood flow in human).

Characterization of Compound (I) and Comparison Compounds

TABLE 13 Characterization of comparison compounds Caco_(verap) K_(p) HLMCl_(int) Compound # Structure 10⁻⁶ cm/sec μL/min/mg (I)

42.3 136 C-1

3.55 6 C-2

5.5 12

Comparative compounds C-1 and C-2 were disclosed by applicant in somepresentations made in April, June and August 2017 at conferences.

Compound (I) is characterized by a much higher permeability (Cacoverapvalue) and human liver microsome clearance (HLM Cl_(int) value) than C-1and C-2. A higher clearance is beneficial to promote quick systemicclearance and prevent systemic exposure which may be associated withside effects. Higher permeability is beneficial for skin indications asit seems to provide for better penetration in the skin.

While the present invention has been described with reference tospecific aspects or embodiments thereof, it will be understood by thoseof ordinary skilled in the art that various changes can be made orequivalents can be substituted without departing from the true spiritand scope of the invention. Additionally, to the extent permitted byapplicable patent statutes and regulations, all publications, patentsand patent applications cited herein are hereby incorporated byreference in their entirety to the same extent as if each document hadbeen individually incorporated by reference herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of treating atopic dermatitis in a humanin need thereof comprising administering to the human a therapeuticallyeffective amount of a compound of formula (I):

or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein the atopic dermatitis is moderate to severe atopic dermatitis.3. The method of claim 1, wherein the atopic dermatitis is mild tomoderate atopic dermatitis.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein thecompound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof,is administered to the skin of the human.
 5. The method of claim 4,wherein the compound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically-acceptablesalt thereof, is administered in a pharmaceutical composition.
 6. Themethod of claim 5, wherein the pharmaceutical composition is anointment.
 7. The method of claim 5, wherein the pharmaceuticalcomposition is a cream.
 8. The method of claim 5, wherein thepharmaceutical composition is a lotion.
 9. The method of claim 5,wherein the pharmaceutical composition is a gel.
 10. The method of claim5, wherein the pharmaceutical composition is a stick.
 11. The method ofclaim 5, wherein the pharmaceutical composition is a spray.
 12. Themethod of claim 5, wherein the pharmaceutical composition is a paste.13. The method of claim 5, wherein the pharmaceutical composition is afoam.
 14. The method of claim 5, wherein the pharmaceutical compositionis a mousse.
 15. The method of claim 5, wherein the pharmaceuticalcomposition comprises between 0.1 and 10% by weight of compound (I), ora pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 16. The method of claim 5,wherein the pharmaceutical composition comprises between 0.25 and 5% byweight of compound (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.17. The method of claim 5, wherein the pharmaceutical compositioncomprises between 0.05 and 0.5% by weight of compound (I), or apharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 18. The method of claim 1,wherein the compound is administered in a freebase form.
 19. The methodof claim 1, wherein the method further comprises administering one ormore additional therapeutic agents.